Overseas Filipino doctors

SAN FRANCISCO – There was a time when Filipino medical workers in the United States were doctors, not nurses or physical therapists or X-ray technicians. But the era of the baby boomer generation of Filipino doctors in the US is coming to an end, or maybe, has ended.

These days, the foreign doctors in US hospitals are mostly Indians. For some reason, Filipino medical graduates these days are unable to meet the standards imposed on foreign medical graduates that the baby boomer generation of Filipino doctors easily did.

Or maybe, current medical graduates no longer feel the need for post graduate training abroad. If at all, I hear they go to Singapore.

The baby boomer generation of Filipino doctors did extremely well in the United States. Even as they became US citizens, they bring honor to Filipinos by being respected medical practitioners.

Indeed, many have become wealthy and have become card-carrying members of the Republican Party. Sometimes, when I meet them at social gatherings here, I cringe at their conservative views, if they’re whites from the deep South.

Then again, many of the Filipino doctors who made good here also never lost their love of the motherland. And even if they may be socially conservative in America, their heart to serve the less fortunate back in the Philippines is always there.

They are always looking for ways to help… to donate used, but very usable medical equipment, or donate their services in medical missions in medically underserved areas of our country. On both counts, they are getting pretty frustrated. They feel unwelcome by government and the local medical community.

Some years ago, I was asked by a doctor friend based in New York to help get an expensive and delicate piece of equipment, for microsurgery out of customs and delivered to PGH. I tried. I think Senators Drilon and Osmena also helped, but customs insisted the donor pay some atrocious amount.

Eventually, we got the equipment out, but too late to be useful. Exposed to the harsh storage conditions in the customs zone, the equipment could no longer be used. Sayang.

It is difficult to understand why such a medical equipment meant for the country’s busiest hospital serving the poor can’t be released from customs without paying taxes or lagay, while all that shabu from China keeps on getting through.

I had been sent a blind copy of a conversation among US-based doctors and some locals via e-mail and it seems my experience years ago is happening still. Here is one US-based doctor relating their group’s sad tale:

“Our mission head told me about the difficult time he had getting four Valley Lab cautery units out of customs, for replacing the decrepit units that Ugnayan ng Pahinungod (the local medical mission group of PGH who we partner with) now use.

“We did get it out of customs, but only after numerous frustrating calls and pakiusap. Doing it through a customs broker and paying taxes on this charitable donation was easier. It’s only money well spent to save lives…

“This is discouraging, but we will persevere with our medical missions. We will do whatever it takes for our love for our country and poor kababayans.”

As for medical missions, the DOH and the PRC are making it difficult for Filipino doctors who have passed their medical board exams here, but have practiced abroad, to see patients during these missions. Here is one account:

“Our eager surgical volunteers (one is a regular volunteer for Doctors Without Borders) are having a hard time renewing PHL licenses and also STP (special temporary permits required of foreigners, including Filipino MDs, who are only licensed in their respective countries).

“One of our surgeons was so frustrated, but he will still join the mission as a non-medical volunteer. So many requirements and documentation. Recently they also now require CMEs.

“Doctors who are retired in the US and did not renew their US licenses, are not given STPs, even though they have decades of practice experience and are board certified. The volunteers just give up. Our poor kababayans suffer. I am glad I have continuously renewed my PHL license since 2005.

“Yes there will come a time when there will be no more foreign medical missions to the PHL and the PRC and the local MDs (some greedy) will have won.”

Here is another account:

“My temporary permit had been taken cared of and I’m in. I’m just stressed because of what our coordinator had to go through.

“This mission is run and supported by our Catholic diocese of Joliet… They helped build a hospital in Bolivia where we have a mission every year and wanted to build a free clinic in Bacolod .

“So I feel bad as a Filipino member, to see this as they work hard and love the Pinoys… Maybe this will be my last mission. In my opinion the lagay system destroyed in part the Philippine psyche and also business…

“Even some of our fellow doctors think there is nothing good about the clinics, because they don’t have follow ups.They don’t know surgical and medical conditions are detected and sent to surgery or cardio specialists or referred for follow ups by local MDs, finances taken cared of by the mission group.

“Two children with congenital heart disease were sent to the heart center n Manila all expenses paid, including board and lodging for the mother. They are now ok. We also are able to educate, counsel, including psychiatry (much needed in the Phil).

“How about the EKGs, ultrasound, nebulizers, surgical instruments, X-ray machines, etc donated to the hospital? The medicines we leave for the hospital to give free (hopefully).

“Most of all, the love that is exchange between patients and doctors and nurses… that is what the patients are most happy about. They feel somebody cares after all.

“And I ask myself why do these hundreds of missioners still go all over the world? And why is there is so much resistance in the Philippines?

“Bobby, I don’t care who you send this to, even to Mr. Duterte, as I’m upset.”

Boo Chanco’s e-mail address is [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @boochanco