The article is from the column of Bro. Dr. Raffy Castillo (Tatlong Kasaysayan) who regularly writes for the Philippine Daily Inquirer (on saturdays). It was an off-shoot of our new year's day gathering in Bro. Raffy's house and his account is what actually transpired. Also present were Dougie Mendoza (in whose honor we gathered that night), Lito Alava, Romy Santos, Romy Buzon, King Santos, Sonny VeraCruz, Rey dela Cruz, Mon Javier, Jing Echavez, Toshi Sy and yours truly (I hope i didn't miss anyone). After a night full of nostalgia, initiation memories (so what's new!) and laughter (mostly c/o King), the discussion suddenly became serious and relevant. That was where it all started.
DOCTORS AS SOCIAL ADVOCATE
AS PUBLISHED IN THE
PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER
RECENTLY, we had a reunion of fraternity brods belonging to the Tau Mu Sigma Phi, which used to be the only recognized medical fraternity in the University of Santo Tomas.
After the usual reminiscing and small talk, Dr. Narciso "King" Santos, our batch's Exalted Brother who protected us from being brutally beaten during our initiation 28 years ago, brought up the issue about doctors being social advocates.
To this, Brods Mulong Buzon and Rey dela Cruz promptly added that we should not hesitate nor be embarrassed to take off our doctor's gowns, put down our stethoscopes and do nonmedical things for society. We can do even small things such as ensuring proper garbage disposal, conducting traffic and supporting sincere and strong-willed government officials like Bayani Fernando in implementing simple laws and much-needed reforms.
My fraternity brods are not isolated cases. There are many healthcare professionals who feel the same way. This may be a sign of the times, and we take it as a healthy sign.
Jose Rizal was one of the first prominent Filipino physicians who could no longer see himself straitjacketed by the physician stereotype as nothing more than a professional in charge of healthcare delivery. Doing anything else was already overstepping the doctor's competence, many senior physicians used to admonish.
This used to be the thinking before. But gradually, probably forced by circumstances, the paradigm has shifted.
Doctors are now getting restless, which leads to two common courses of action.
The first is to jump ship and move out at any cost and no matter how uncertain the future in other countries (mainly the US) might be. This would suggest that no matter how uncertain the prospects are in other countries, they can't be any worse than the perennially uncertain future we have here.
Even well-established medical specialists who are doing well in their practice are taking up an accelerated course in nursing, and applying as nurses abroad.
"For the children's sake," they would quickly say to justify what they are doing. For many doctors the itch of some congressmen to push for the medical malpractice bill last year was the straw that broke the camel's back. It was their "sign from heaven" to ship out.
The second course of action that the majority has taken -- myself included -- is to stick it out here in the country, come what may.
But it's time to get actively involved. The stakes-including our children's, grandchildren's and great grandchildren's future-are simply too high. Remaining passive while many of our leaders continue to botch their jobs is too risky.
We are glad to note that doctors and other healthcare workers are now more conscious about political and social issues. We cannot isolate ourselves from the sociopolitical ills besetting the country that impact significantly on health concerns. It's a vicious cycle that has to be broken one way or the other.
Doctors and allied professionals are not just health deliverers anymore. They have shifted their roles to become social advocates or even social activists. Many medical and allied organizations are starting to take a firm stand on various sociopolitical issues, especially if they concern health.
They no longer seek refuge on the middle ground. They no longer want to remain passive observers in the gallery.
Recently a broad-based alliance of healthcare workers was formed with 750,000 members, according to my fraternity brods Doctors Tony Rebosa and Vic Lopez. If you include their families, you're talking here of some three million potential voters. So politicians are starting to listen. But that is beside the point.
What is important is that the group wants not only to be heard or be considered as a political force to reckon with but also to breathe on the backs of government officials who are too slow in doing things that were supposed to be completed yesterday, or last year, or probably a decade ago.
Tony, Vic and his wife, Dr. Menguita Padilla-Lopez, are vocal frontliners in the alliance. So is Dr. Jojo Carabeo of the Health Alliance for Democracy. Doctors Carol Pagaduan, Boying and Delen delaPaz have likewise been actively involved in their respective NGOs. Our cardiologist-mentor HB Calleja has decided to run again for president of the Philippine Medical Association to lead the PMA in taking more decisive action.
Dr. Ed Clemente and former Health Secretary Jimmy Galvez-Tan are two other physician-social advocates who raise the healthcare professionals' social consciousness every now and then with their incisive discussions on social advocacy in their medical columns.
All of these doctors keep the torch burning for the medical community.
Just like Rizal, many doctors have cast their lot to help address the nation's sociopolitical ills. Rizal paid for it dearly with his life. Many healthcare professionals hope it will not require that extreme sacrifice; but some I've talked to seem to be prepared to do the same if that is needed to institute meaningful reforms that will change not just the country's discouraging health condition but also the nation's destiny.
The doctors and healthcare professionals have finally awakened from a long sleep.
AFTERWORD
The following article was from a column by Fred C. Espinoza in his regular column in Sun Star Cebu published April 15, 2003.
DOCTORS STAND UP. One of the recent developments taking place in the country is the proactive stance of some members in the medical profession following the reunion of fraternity brods belonging to the Tau Mu Sigma Phi, which used to be the only recognized medical fraternity in the University of Santo Tomas.
One of the issues raised was of doctors being social advocates. The common observation during the meeting was that doctors are now getting restless, leading some to jump ship and move out no matter how uncertain the future in other countries might be. But the majority has stuck it out here in the country, come what may.
It was emphasized, however, that it was time they got involved. The common feeling was that “the stakes are simply too high, taking into account their children’s future; that they could no longer afford to remain passive, while many of our leaders continue to botch their jobs.”
The conferees noted that health care practitioners are now more conscious about political and social issues.
