WITHOUT THE WHITE COAT
By Dr. Florentino P. Alerta II

2005. the outlook of MEDICAL PRACTICE

Practicing Medicine in this part of the world had been more difficult and had not been as lucrative as before as one practicing physician had placed it. The Filipino physician always outshined (talented and industrious) other physicians in other countries especially in the US . For some of us, we have searched for the "greener pastures" in the land of milk and honey as nurses. (As of now that's the only way out, after they restructured again the tax system for practicing doctors not counting the malpractice bill) The question that will always be in front of us is "who will take care of an ailing nation?" with the exodus of doctor-nurses and dwindling number of applicants to medical schools who will take care of the ill or sadly said the " sick Filipino"? There was a time in the past that in every corner of striving metropolis you will always find a doctor's office in every block and the population of the medical schools was just swelling in numbers, doctors were just everywhere. If you attended any function may it be a baptism, wedding or just a birthday party you will surely found out that one of the principal sponsors, invited guest or the honored guest or speaker will surely be a doctor or physician by profession, it was a time that a function or party won't be so dignified if it doesn't have a physician or doctor around. That's the same attitude that is being imparted in medical school, Medicine- a dignified career, or simply placed a ticket up the social ladder or a place in the upper strata of society.

2005 will bring some realities that being a practicing family physician will prove to be a healthy option for our fellow country man, the specialty that doesn't have any boundaries. The specialty that consults and takes care of the entire family or as one colleague had placed it "from womb to tomb" a practice that recognizes the specialty as the plain "common tao-the patient, not the organ system".

Medical practice, as some may view it, is not as lucrative as before as a lot of practitioners had already shifted careers and had sought the greener pastures, for some form of alternative living. (Retail business or the fishpond industry had proven to be a good source of income) As a practicing physician we need a long term solution from the health sector of the government to address the system, the reality is that we can never improve the quality of life of each Filipino citizen, if there are no physicians or doctors manning the health care station-the basic unit of health care in this country. (If you have the strategic staff of a municipal hospital like doctors and nurses packing up in search for the greener pasture, then and there you will say there is something wrong with our health care system.) It is time that as practicing physician going back to the basics is much more needed by the community at large, a medical practice centered in the patient and his community not on the disease entity alone.

For the new graduates, don't expect to get your ROI (return of investment) in a year or two, one option is take up another career or just being a simple slickster in medical practice that you are always ahead of the pack of wolves. Staying contented and being happy with life is what counts.(School for your children, food on the table, clothes for your spouse, gas for your car) Let us view the practice of medicine as a healing art, finding meaning in its application and the rewards that come afterwards, in which dignity will follow and service counts a lot. For some colleagues don't be demoralized by the exodus of some of our colleagues (if the well of financial and monetary source is drying up then it is time to pack up and enjoy life in the land of honey with our family in tow), there is still life in the practice of medicine in Metro Iloilo.

A healing craft, for preserving and saving lives. a medical practice of alleviating pain and improving the quality of life for our patients, a unique kind of care, a specialty whose emphasis is on the patient not on the organ system. the total person, a role which society had viewed upon with dignity, but the most important thing is how our everlasting creator and LORD up there had given it with value. That counts.