Gordon seeks probe of foreign doctors in PH without permits

Sen. Richard Gordon. (Photo by CATHY MIRANDA / INQUIRER.net)

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Richard Gordon on Saturday called for a probe of syndicates allegedly bringing in foreign doctors in the country even without working permits.

Gordon’s stemmed after reports that several Pakistani or Nepalese doctors had been practicing medicine as medical consultants here in the Philippines.

According to Gordon, this is in violation of the reciprocity requirement under The Medical Act of 1959 (Republic Act No. 2382) and the “PRC [Professional Regulatory Commission] Modernization Act of 2000 (Republic Act No. 8981).

“I am concerned because they are allowed to deal with patients on a one-on-one basis. They prescribe medicines. The patients hardly understand them,” Gordon said in a statement. “Marami na kong natanggap na reklamo tungkol dito na nakumpirma namin.”

[I have received a lot of complaints about that this that we have confirmed.]

“Are they supervised by Filipino doctors? Are they even allowed to practice medicine here? As I understand it, we only have a reciprocity principal with Japan, Spain and the United States, including ASEAN Mutual Recognition Arrangements,” he added.

Gordon, who chairs the Senate Blue Ribbon committee, said that his office first saw a related incident at the James L. Gordon Memorial Hospital, a government facility in Olongapo City.

“Dapat matigil ito [this should be stopped] because this concerns the health and well-being of the public and I fear that this is being practiced not just in Olongapo but in other areas too,” Gordon said.

Under the law, only the PRC is authorized to issue licenses or “special temporary permit to foreign professionals who desire to practice their professions in the country under reciprocity and other international agreements.”

/atm