(Eagle News) — The Palace on Tuesday, April 30, said it supports a probe into the supposed influx of foreign doctors in the country.
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo issued the statement after Senator Richard Gordon called for an investigation into an alleged syndicate that facilitates the entry of employment of such medical professionals even without the necessary permits.
“He should really investigate the whys and the wherefores of this influx of foreign doctors in the country so we know,” Panelo said.
In his statement on Saturday, April 27, Gordon said under Section 7 (j) Republic Act No. 8981, the Professional Regulation Commission was empowered to “approve the registration of and authorize the issuance of a certificate of registration/license and professional identification card…to a foreigner” who wishes to practice his or her profession, and to authorize the issuance of a certificate of registration/license or special temporary permit to foreign professionals.
He added the working as medical consultants by some foreign doctors was in violation of the reciprocity requirement under Republic Act 2382 or The Medical Act of 1959, and the Professional Regulation Commission Modernization Act of 2000.
According to Gordon, “as I understand it, we only have a reciprocity principal with Japan, Spain and the United States, including the ASEAN Mutual Recognition Arrangements.”
“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,” he said.