Inquirer News

DOH asked to consider temporary foreign doctor practice in PH

postie
Sen. Francis Tolentino foreign doctor doh

PROTECTING THE ELDERLIES FROM ABUSE: Sen. Francis Tolentino presides over the Committee on Justice and Human Rights public hearing Tuesday, April 18, 2023 on several measures which seek to protect senior citizens from neglect, exploitation and other forms of abuses. The committee discussed Senate Bill Nos. 816, 639, 582 and 1408 filed by Senators Win Gatchalian, Sonny Angara, Risa Hontiveros and Ramon Bong Revilla Jr., respectively. Tolentino, noting that there is no specific offense concerning elderly abuse, said there is a need to come up with a general policy and law on elderly abuse and how to make this an offense “that would really prevent abuse (and) protect our elderly or senior citizens from being subjected to this abuse.” He said such abuses or neglect are actually unrecorded or unregistered because Filipinos are "clannish” and it is shameful for Filipinos to speak up that elderly members are subjected to abuse by members of the same family. “So that's why we don't have records in the PSA (Philippine Statistics Authority) about the elderly abuse. But there are records coming from other countries that would note that in the Asia Pacific region, older persons often felt ashamed of their abuse and neglect experiences and therefore choose not to report them. Especially because majority of the perpetrators are family members whom older persons rely for guarantee,” Tolentino said. During the same hearing, the committee endorsed for plenary deliberation the Filipino citizenship of Canadian vlogger Kyle Douglas “Kulas” Jennermann. (Joseph Vidal/Senate PRIB)

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Francis Tolentino has urged the Department of Health to consider allowing foreign doctors to practice in the country for a limited period.

“Meron namang mga doktor na rehistrado sa ibang bansa na gusto mag-practice for a brief period dito sa ating bansa na espesyalista talaga doon… sandali (lang) sila rito, hindi naman para makipag-compete. Magkakaroon ito ng transfer of technology,” Tolentino said in his weekly DZRH program on Monday.

(There are registered doctors in foreign countries, specialists who want to practice in our country…They’ll only stay here for a brief period. This is not to compete but to have a transfer of technology.)

The legislator asked newly appointed Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa, the featured guest of his program, to review the current policy restricting foreign doctors’ ability to work in the country.

Under the law, the Professional Regulation Commission is tasked “to supervise foreign nations who are authorized by existing laws to practice their professions either as holders of a certificate of registration and a professional identification card or a [special temporary] permit in the Philippines.”

The Medical Act of 1959 also limits foreign doctors’ practice of their profession in the country without a registration certificate.

Tolentino argued that many medical specialists, including Filipinos practicing medicine overseas, want to help the country – not just for medical missions but for long-term practice.

He recalled that in the aftermath of the 2013 Super Typhoon Yolanda, a group of French and Spanish doctors had told him in Tacloban City that they wanted to provide medical assistance to critical patients but were merely limited to giving first aid due to the lack of license to practice in the country.

Herbosa responded that he would speak with the PRC to review the current licensing rules and look into the possibility of temporarily allowing foreign doctors to practice their profession in the country.

RELATED STORIES

Some senators want foreign medical students barred from SUCs

Congress asked to help limit foreign students in medical programs

 je/abc
Exit mobile version