'The time to act is now,' Garin says on passage of Physicians Act of 2008
Garin
Recent incidents of unethical and illegal practice of medicine that shamed the nation in general and the medical community here in particular have now increased calls to strengthen the practice of medicine in the Philippines.
In Congress, Iloilo First District Representative Janette Loreto-Garin stood up to condemn the incidents while addressing the bigger issue on the need for reforms.
With existing laws and provisions apparently no longer as responsive to the present scenario, the lady solon, a physician by profession pushed for the passage of Physicians Act of 2008.
In a privilege speech Monday, Garin called for collective Legislative and Executive support on a matter she appealed to be certified as "urgent."
Among the primary provisions is the move to strengthen the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) by converting it into an Integrated PMA. As such, the membership here of all licensed physicians is mandatory with the members under a stringent set of rules for unquestionable ethical and legal conduct of the profession.
Garin also called for the passage of a Resolution urging the Executive Department to immediately create a task force to investigate the practice of illegal medicine in the country.
"We have to show to the world that our country is worthy and capable of being a hub of the medical profession. With the creation of such an investigative body, we will be able to show to the world that we have all the intention and the political will to run after the people who endanger the Medical Tourism Program," she said.
Further still was the Resolution urging the Department of Health to create an office within the Central Office tasked to do the following:
Receive complaints, even anonymous ones, on cases regarding unethical and illegal practice of medicine
Institute mechanism wherein complaints may be filed online at the DOH's website.
"This is similar to the online filing of cases at the Ombudsman website and the complaints should be verified by the regional office concerned within a reasonable period of two months and if verified, the Department of Health should immediately inform the public and the tri-media sector through advisories, detailing the modus operandi of illegal practitioners of medicine in the area and in other areas as well and giving the necessary precautions. This should be circulated in all regional offices so as to deter violators from transferring to another province and seeking a new batch of victims," the lady solon added. "With these in place, we will not be allowing a few to prosper for personal gain. We must not allow the few to stain the image and potential of our medical community, a community with a tradition and culture for excellence, integrity and capability. Together, let us work in getting the message across – DO NO HARM."
Garin likewise noted how the Philippines has produced the world's best surgeons and medical practitioners preferred by most nations and the international medical community. Fact is, she continued, living proofs are the hundreds of thousands in trusted and trustworthy Filipino men and women in the illustrious and highly-competitive world of medicine.
In the Philippines though, with at least five decades after the passage of a then comprehensive Medical Act, sadly provisions on the law and of the law has now become unresponsive to the latest evolution of medical practice in the Philippines.
Garin's Bill identifies the acceptable medical works in today's Philippine scenario as it gives the law the teeth to prosecute and go after violators.
"Everybody has the right to proper medical care from licensed medical practitioners just as nobody has the right to play doctor to achieve that care. And the government is mandated to oversee it with regulations that should be responsive and attuned to the ever-changing, ever-growing and ever-challenging needs of the populace," she said. "Needs and problems on medical care in the Philippines have evolved. Physicians Act of 2008 is designed to address it."