Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose – that’s life!

Nothing beats a bowl of buttered popcorn while watching a boxing match with family and friends. But I did not expect the game to end after 6 rounds and to top it off – it was clearly a knock out. Oh! Well, Manny did his best and he is still a great boxer. And like he said, “Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose!”

*      *      *

My heart goes out to our countrymen who were victims of Typhoon Pablo. This was such a powerful storm, the damage of which, urban folk could not fathom. When we experience typhoons in Metro Manila (or in Luzon) everything is reported and seen because media is everywhere and man-made devastations are predominant. In this case far down south there are not so many media men and TV crews. The tragedies in the rural areas are more about natural landslides and people buried under the rubbles.

We only hear about illegal logging or mining in such areas which contribute to the disasters when death comes to us. I truly feel that the governor, mayor and barangay officials are directly responsible for this mess. I know they too have been hit and may be victims of the storm but a public official has an extraordinary role and responsibility to do. He or she must be proactive all the time. In times like this, we cannot help but again ask the still unanswered question, why do our public officials allow the rural folk to squat or build homes in purple zone areas which are clearly dangerous zones? Susmariosep!

*      *      *

Here we go again with the RH Bill dilemma. I think the decision-making process has become a big problem for our politicians because they can lose their votes if they say “Yes to the RH Bill” or “No to the RH Bill”. This is the primary reason why it is taking too long for them to decide. Yes, they have put themselves in a position more to please their constituents. Word of advice: Base your vote on your conscience, on what you think is right for the country. The President has always made himself clear on this issue and as the leader of this over-populated country I think we must respect his decision and understand where he is coming from. He wants progress and development. He needs to control our population because the government cannot handle it anymore. I think he is right! Remember the law on supply and demand? The anti-RH Bill groups must come up with answers and measures on how to control the population and perhaps in doing so find the solution to poverty.

Win or lose, it does not matter. What matters most at the end of the day, is that our leaders did their best, not for personal gain but for country!

*      *      *

A few weeks ago I wrote about the dilemma our medical practitioners face today amidst the cry for a law that will criminalize medical malpractice. I mentioned the effects of this law not only to the physicians and other medical practitioners but also to the general public particularly the poor. A medical malpractice law will prove futile in the physicians’ exercise of their responsibility and solemn promise to save lives no matter what happens.

Dr. Ricardo R. Braganza, MD FPOGS from Medical Center Manila reiterated the possible scenario and confusion the medical practitioners as well as patients will endure if Bills 6538 and 3137 will be approved. He said that doctors will no longer attend to many patients who go to them for treatment while patients can no longer choose the doctors as they please. Dr. Braganza said that the medical profession is the most regulated profession in the Philippines. He added that the practice of medicine has been for some time now been subjected to regulations by PhilHealth and the different health maintenance insurances and within the medical profession, requirements for training and continuing medical education have never been more stringent.

If the bills proposed will be passed, the conduct of medical training will also suffer. The training period plus the internship and passing the board exams requirements may take another two years in addition to passing the specialty board.

The medical profession is said to be the most charity-oriented profession as doctors commonly give free medical and surgical services in the clinics and through medical missions. As a matter of fact, in our school we conduct medical and dental missions to the indigenous community in Palan, Zambales every year. Our doctors, dentists and nurses do the missions for free. By the way, it is also sad to note that the Philippine government does not even offer incentives not even in the form of tax relief as done in other countries.

If the Medical Malpractice Bill will be passed, many young and intelligent students with great potentials will be discouraged in pursuing a medical profession.

In an article written by Dr. Braganza for the Philippine Obstetrical and Gynecological Society Newsletter September 2012 issue, he lamented on the plight of the doctors, from the fresh graduates, resident trainees, the practitioners of the different medical specialties including obstetricians and gynecologists. “While it seems that there are better programs for the doctors for better opportunities to get back the return of investment for hard work, sleepless nights during training and further training and attending to patients, this for many seems to be not happening even in many years. In spite of this, doctors continue to do what they know best which is to provide utmost care to the patients while silently wondering where or what is wrong with the medical practice system. Many doctors seem to lose steam and esteem.

To what shall we attribute our woes? Are we to blame the health insurances, satellite clinics and the like that pay the doctors including specialists no better than someone who has not finished college, paying as low as 150-200 pesos per hour with unlimited patients seen? Or the government that established the PhilHealth with payments so incongruent to the type of surgery and the risks taken by the attending physicians and surgeons? Shall we blame the leaderships in the PMA and the Philippine College of Surgeons and the different specialty societies? Are we to blame ourselves for accepting the terms?

It is hard enough for training hospitals to look for residents for residency training that already foreigners are filling up their places. Many young Filipino doctors prefer to go moonlighting in smaller hospitals and clinics. It is so heartbreaking to see long time practicing friends leaving and working abroad for lesser jobs and so pitiful to see pillars of medicine growing old with just enough or so little to hold on. Is it the prize we as doctors get after the very long process to become providers of healthcare?

May I post the question and know the answer: what is the state of the medical profession in the country, now and in the future? Who will answer this? Please.”

*      *      *

Win or lose…that’s how life is. It is a web of challenges that one has to entangle to succeed. Winning comes easy for those who dare to act. Losing shows us that life can be unfair. But at the end of the day, we made the decision. Win or lose…at least we did not cringe in fear against the enemy.