AFTER A LONG hibernation, I’m back and will touch on certain issues that plague the medical community.

Take for example the insertion of some provisions in the Generics Act of 1988 under R.A. 6675 and the shortage of doctors in the country.

The said insertion in the Generics Act had taken out the right of the physician to prescribe the right medication to our patients. After a long time, the doctor has already established the best therapeutic regimen for the patient. The decision to prescribe and start a medical therapeutic program for the patient depends on the patient-doctor interaction inside the consultation room, with the doctor prescribing the most effective treatment for the patient without compromising his safety.

The said amendment has given the pharmacist the right to decide as to what generic brand is good for the patient. Whatever mistakes that the pharmacist will incur, the doctor is still accountable.

Another issue is the shortage of doctors. According to a national daily newspaper, at least 18 towns in Eastern Visayas don’t have any doctors. There are a lot of doctors who opted to study Nursing and move to the United States or United Kingdom to work as nurses. They also bring their families with them.

Another reality is that majority of our high school graduates are planning to enrol ni Nursing so they could find a good job abroad.

Now, a lot of college graduates are thinking twice in going to medical school.

Leave a Reply