DOH nod for temporary practice of foreign doctors in PH sought

A SENATOR on Tuesday urged the Department of Health (DOH) to consider allowing foreign doctors to practice locally for a limited period which will bring benefit not only with the exchange of ideas, but also on the transfer of technology.

In a news release, Senator Francis Tolentino said there are plenty of doctors abroad signifying to conduct medical practice in the country but the current protective Philippine policy prevents them from doing so.

“Mayroon naman pong mga doktor na rehistrado sa ibang bansa na gusto mag-practice for a brief period dito sa ating bansa na espesiyalista talaga doon, sandali (lang) sila rito, hindi naman para makipag-compete. Magkakaroon ito ng (There are doctors and specialists registered in other countries who want to practice here in our country for a brief period, not to compete. This will result to) transfer of technology),” Tolentino said.

He said there are also specialists, especially our fellow Filipinos practicing abroad, in the United States, want to serve here not only in medical missions on a longer term since they have affinity here in the country.

Tolentino also made the suggestion during his regular radio program in DZRH wherein DOH Secretary Teodoro Herbosa was present as a guest.

Herbosa agreed sharing his previous experience when he worked in Malaysia as visiting professor in a medical university where the Philippine medical license and his accreditation with the Philippine Medical Association were enough to practice medicine there.

“Ang sinubmit ko lang ay yung lisensya ko sa Pilipinas, yung membership ko sa [Philippine Medical Association], yung curriculum vitae ko, tapos ni-review nila. Tapos kaunting interview, tapos binigyan ako ng temporary license in the hospital doon sa (I only submitted my license here in the Philippines, my membership in the Philippine Medical Association, my curriculum vitae which they reviewed. After an interview, they gave me a temporary license in the hospital there in) Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia [National University of Malaysia],” Herbosa recalled.

The DOH chief said he will consult the Professional Regulations Commission on the possibility of relaxing the current licensing rules to allow foreign doctors to temporarily practice their profession in the Philippines.

During the aftermath of the devastation of Super Typhoon Yolanda in November 2013, Tolentino remembered that a group of French and Spanish physicians from "Doctors Without Borders" talked to him when he was in Tacloban City.

The lawmaker said those foreign doctors want to treat critical patients but were only allowed to administer first aid procedure since they don’t have licenses to practice in the Philippines.

According to the Republic Act 2382 or The Medical Act of 1959, foreign physicians and surgeons are exempted in securing certificate of registration if they were "called in consultation only and exclusively in specific and definite cases, or those attached to international bodies or organizations assigned to perform certain definite work in the Philippines, provided they shall limit their practice to the specific work assigned to them and provided further they shall secure a previous authorization from the Board of Medical Examiners."

Meanwhile, commissioned medical officers of the United States Armed Forces stationed in the Philippines are also not required to register provided that they will render their services only for American soldiers and "within the limit of their own respective territorial jurisdiction."

RA 2382 further says that "foreign physicians employed as exchange professors in special branches of medicine or surgery whose service may, upon previous authorization of the Board of Medical Examiners are also exempted from securing certificate of registration.

However, such authorization shall automatically cease when the epidemic or national emergency is terminated by the Secretary of Health.

The Professional Regulatory Commission is in charge of authorizing the issuance of a certificate of registration/license or a Special Temporary Permit to foreign professionals who desire to practice their professions in the country under reciprocity and other international agreements. (Wilnard Bacelonia)