GORDON WELCOMES PALACE BACKING; DOH, BI ACTION ON HIS PROPOSAL TO PROBE INFLUX OF FOREIGN DOCTORS IN THE COUNTRY

Senator Richard J. Gordon welcomed Malacanang's support for his proposal to probe the influx of foreign doctors in the country through a syndicate that facilitates the entry and employment of foreign doctors into the country to practice medicine in some hospitals without having the necessary permits.

Gordon, chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, also thanked the Department of Health and the Bureau of Immigration for promptly responding to his call, adding that their immediate actions would stop Filipinos from being exposed to foreign doctors who are not authorized to practice medicine here.

"I don't want the public to be hurt by doctors who are not authorized, under our laws, to see to patients. Hindi dapat ini-experimento ang mga tao, hindi in-expose sa mga di naman dapat humawak sa kanila. We really have to make sure that this illegal practice is stopped, that's why I am glad that Malacanang is backing me up on this and that the DOH and the BI are taking immediate action," he said.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III has ordered the DOH - Human Resource for Health Development Bureau to look into the issue. Likewise, the Bureau of Immigration assured that it will delve into reports that a syndicate is allegedly behind the employment of foreign doctors in the country.

Gordon disclosed that reports reaching his office showed that the foreign doctors pay P100,000 per year in order to become a resident here and shell out additional P29,000 for room rental in some doctors' houses.

This is in violation of the reciprocity requirement as stated in Republic Act 2382 or the Medical Act of 1959 and RA 8981 also known as the Professional Regulatory Commission Modernization Act of 2000. To date, Japan, Spain and the United States are the only countries where the Philippines has reciprocity principals.

"Ayon pa dun sa nakuha kong report, ang mga foreign doctors ay nagbabayad ng P100,000 kada taon bawat isa para lang makapag-residency o makapag-train dito, pwera pa sa P29,000 kada buwan na upa nila sa kwartong titirahan nila. Saan napupunta yun? Sino ang kumikita? Kasamang pumayag ng permit from the mayor to the hospital officials. Malaking racket talaga to," he said.

After stumbling on the racket right at the James L. Gordon Memorial Hospital, a government hospital in Olongapo City, wherein several doctors of Pakistani or Nepalese citizenships have been practicing medicine as medical consultants, Gordon has received numerous complaints against the said practice.