REPUBLIC ACT NO. 2251 - AN ACT TO FURTHER AMEND SECTION ONE OF REPUBLIC ACT NUMBERED TWELVE HUNDRED AND FORTY-THREE, AS AMENDED BY REPUBLIC ACT NUMBERED EIGHTEEN HUNDRED AND EIGHTY-SEVEN, SO AS TO INCREASE THE MINIMUM YEARS FOR THE TENURE OF OFFICE OF HOSPITAL RESIDENTS IN HOSPITALS UNDER THE CONTROL AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE DEPARTMENTS OF HEALTH AND NATIONAL DEFENSE.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Section one of Republic Act Numbered Twelve hundred and forty-three, as amended by Republic Act Numbered Eighteen hundred and eighty-seven, is further amended to read as follows:

"SECTION 1. Physicians appointed for hospital residency other than senior residency in any training hospital under the Department of Health and Department of National Defense must be duly licensed physicians who have graduated from recognized medical schools. They shall be appointed for a period of one year, renewable every year, in the discretion of the Secretary of Health or Secretary of National Defense, as the case may be: Provided, however, That the total duration of their appointments shall not exceed a period of five years if the residency is in orthopedic surgery; four years if in general surgery and in general medicine; three years if in obstetrics-gynecology, pediatrics, pathology, and in eyes, ears, nose and throat; and two years if in radiology and anesthesiology: Provided, further, That in the computation of the period of residency the time during which the appointee may have served as resident in any clinical department or section of any government training hospital shall be included: Provided, lastly, That residents in government training hospitals appointed under Republic Act Numbered Twelve hundred forty-three, as amended, may be reappointed for the unexpired term only as provided for in this Act." SEC. 2. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved, June 18, 1959.