S2 Application & Yellow Prescription Pads

During our oath-taking last September 7, 2007, I remember what the Chair of the Medical Examiners said after we swore the Hippocratic Oath - "you can now prescribe". Well, we can but not all of 'em. There are some medications, drugs that are restricted. In order to prescribe those restricted drugs, we need to have an S2 license. It can be applied at the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) office in Quezon City. The cost is Php1,500. It is valid in the same duration as the PRC license, renewable after 3 years. So if you plan to apply for one but your PRC license expires also on that same year, it's better to renew your PRC license first.

The requirements are the following:
1. PRC ID card or duly certified true copy
2. Official receipt of professional tax receipt (PTR); or latest certificate of employment for government physicians or duly certified true copy
3. Tax identification number (TIN) card or latest income tax return (ITR) or duly certified true copy
4. Drug test result (DOH-DDB IDTOMIS-generated report)
5. Two pieces of 1x1 id picture if applying for a S2 paper ID card. If you want to get the PVC ID card, submit two pieces of 2x2 id picture instead.
6. For those who will be renewing, previous S2 ID issued. For lost ID, submit proof of publication of loss
* Duly certified true copies can just be simple but clear photocopies. Bring your original documents for verification.
* Personal appearance is required to facilitate entry & capture of current photo & information into the automated system. Once entered, need not apply in person on succeeding period.
* Government physicians are exempted from payment of license fee. However must submit original duly-notarized affidavit that the S2 license shall be used exclusively in government practice only.


Drug test result - just like when applying/renewing your driving license, urine will be collected to check for presence of methamphethamines. Picture & legal signature will be taken when doing this test. Depends on the laboratory you go to, release of results maybe 1 week after. Forgot the price of this test. I personally went to Hi-Precision Diagnostic Lab. 

I filed for an income tax return the same year I applied for an S2 license, so that's what I used. I didn't had a TIN card.

Application for the S2 license was very fast since a few number of physicians were applying. Aside from me, there was also a veterinarian and another physician in queue. I applied for the PVC ID card. If I applied for the paper ID, I was scared that I might mistake it as a trash & throw it away. The card was released after 1 month from my application. But I was given a temporary ID in the meantime. When I claimed my ID, I was informed I can buy yellow prescription pads but that had to wait for half a year. Instead, I used typical prescription pads from my former institution since I was still a resident. Btw, bring another valid ID because you'll leave one at the entrance. And wear closed shoes when going there.


When I finished residency, I've decided to buy yellow prescription pads for my future practice. I inquired at two institutions - Philippine Children Medical Center and East Avenue Medical Center. After phone queries, PCMC has no available stocks of the yellow Rx pad; EAMC has. It was worth Php300 each pad, and I can buy maximum of 3 pads as first-time buyer. So I went there but I bought 2 pads instead. The pads were thick and I thought it would take awhile before I use 'em all. Up until now, I haven't used any piece coming from my yellow Rx pad.  

I have my own PRC license number, yearly PTR number, and now my own S2 license. I gotta be more careful. They're all under my name.

http://pdeapress.org/phase/ONLINE_S2_APPLICATION_PROCEDURES.htm