BuCor urged to name doctors in Bilibid racket

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Medical Association (PMA) called on the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) on Monday to submit to it the list of doctors allegedly involved in the “hospital pass for sale” racket at the national penitentiary so that appropriate sanctions, if found guilty, could be imposed on them.

PMA president Dr. Jose Santiago Jr. said that once these erring doctors had been identified, their ethics board would immediately commence its investigation to find out whether proper diagnosis and treatment on the inmates were made and if the questioned medical certificates were indeed issued by them.

Based on diagnosisis

“The treatment plan should be based on the diagnosis. If it’s diagnosed as typhoid fever, it has to be treated as typhoid fever,” Santiago said.

“I have heard but have not seen any complaint [to our board] on fake medical certificates. It’s quite rare because we can readily know if it’s fake. So we really have to see the papers and interview the doctors before we can say it’s fake.”

During last week’s Senate investigation into the irregularities at New Bilibid Prison, Sen. Panfilo Lacson said he received information that hospital passes were being sold to inmates for P200,000 to P2 million.

Santiago said that if the allegations against the doctors were found to be true, their membership from the country’s largest medical group would be suspended.

The erring doctor’s license may also be recommended for revocation.