Without the White Coat
The duty to serve in the municipality
After finishing his residency training in Family Medicine a colleague had always wanted to go back to his dear old town (the newest city in the province of Iloilo)with extreme dedication to render his medical expertise as a caring physician. That may have been the reason why he went into the residency training of Family Medicine, to serve all types of patients from pediatrics to adult medicine, from the pregnant mother to the lacerated wound. What was on his mind was to give back to his community in the form of medical services he can rendered working for the city medical unit. To his dismay the medical system of the city was full of dirty and rotten politics that have already engrossed the roots of the medical profession. I think the statement will still hold true " it is who you know", may it be the " padrino system of Philippine politics", or just plainly the palakasan system in our Filipino government. The politicos should shy away from running the municipal or rural health unit, and should give that function to the rural physician. There only function is to secure funds for the health center or unit. Once the physician is under the influence or clout of the municipalities top ranking officials he'll/she'll fall graces to this politicos, simply place, as physicians we are under the "armpits" of this politicians.
One disgusting situation is happening in one of the municipalities in the province of Iloilo, in which a municipal health physician is still waiting for her son to take over as the municipal health office( as municipal health officer) of the town once she retired from the medical service.( so in God's name what do you call this?, can you just turn over your position to your off springs when you still work in an government agency?, knowing that this persons that will "inherit" the position are not even qualified or competent for the said position.) There maybe a commitment to serve in this case, but the physician that will replace his parent don't even have the training to do so.( ie. public health, social health or just a simple specialty of being a Family Physician, and not even a member of a "bonafide" and "authetic" medical society in the province.)
Another case that involves full service and commitment is when a physician is elected as a member of the "sanguinian bayan" that is a very honorable act for a doctor to do, but look again as this physicians are being paid by their respective municipalities to be in the municipal hall guess were can you find them?........ some are practicing as physicians doing medical examinations of drivers and applicants during his official time as a "sanguinian bayan" member. Let me just remind our colleagues in the field of medical practice that also serve as "SB" members of some municipalities in the province of Iloilo. (thus this reminds you of the case that we brought up here in this column of a training internal medicine resident physician doing "her" training in IM, on the same time is running for election as a "SB" member of this newest town in the province of Iloilo?, the medical institution especially those that were involved in her residency training never raised a hand or finger to correct or discipline "this" resident.) Under section (90) (a) and (b) of the Local Government Code which provides that: "(b) sanggunian members may practice their professions, engage in any occupation, or teach in schools except during session hours: xxx xxx xxx; (c) doctors of medicine may practice their profession even during official hours of work only on occasions of emergency: Provided, That the officials concerned do not derive monetary compensation therefrom," Furthermore this was quoted from the regional director of DILG(Department of Interior and Local Government) stating , " the letters and the intent of the law is unequivocably clear. In our legal hermeneutics, once the law is clearly worded so as not to leave any doubt, there is no room for interpretation but only for implementation. Thus, a sanggunian member who is a doctor is prohibited from exercising his profession during official office hours, which means, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday to Friday, except in times of emergency and without deriving any compensation therefrom. Corollarily, he may practice his medical profession without limitation after office hours or during weekends and holidays.Any violation thereof shall be a ground for administrative action against the erring local official.
I think I should rest my case now,... we should take out this "politicos" from the municipal or rural health unit, let the qualified and competent municipal health officer do his job and profession.