1. In the late 70’s AMA and its agencies have practiced limiting foreign graduates in the US. Our organization, PMASC together with the Association of Philippine Physicians in America and the International Medical Council have formed lobbying groups including hiring a former senator to be the spokesperson. Luckily, the president of AMA, Dr. Scott Hotckess was an associate of the APPA President Dr. Juan Montero, Jr. Since then they have liberalized some of the AMA policies.
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2. In the mid 80’s Senator Dianne Watson who was then the Chairwoman of the Senate Health Assembly introduced a bill curtailing foreign graduates. One of the consequences was for the Medical Board of California to visit various medical schools outside of the United States. The medical schools in the Philippines were inspected and we failed. As a result, Assembly Bill 1859 mandated an inspection of various medical schools in the Philippines. Their findings in the site visits revealed serious quality problems on all medical schools and therefore the Philippines cannot be considered equivalent to that obtained in any approved schools in the US. They further concluded that clinical experience to such a degree cannot be accepted at face value. The PMASC requested that the site group inspection be considered. They went back in 1999 for another site visit and they found the governing bodies of various medical schools in the Philippines were keenly interested in upgrading the curriculum. They concluded that medical school graduates in the Philippines are comparable to United States and Canada. These findings were conveyed to the Federation of Medical Board of United States.
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3. In 2007 the ABC TV under Walt Disney Productions released a television program denigrating the Filipino Medical graduates questioning their diplomas. The PMASC formed a group called PMADD (Philippine Medical Association Defamation Defense). They hired Atty. Gloria Allred to secure legal help and obtained her services to counteract and to apologize from such episode.
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4. In 2012, Dr. Janet Guarin introduced a bill to the Philippine Assembly requiring foreign medical missioners to obtain liability insurance before conducting medical missions. Objections by PMASC decided a visit to various members of Philippine Assembly. A group of our association visited Speaker Belmonte and met with Secretary Ike Ona in a dinner forum. Courtesy calls were also made to Senator Edgardo Angara and Senator Loren Legarda to discuss the problem.
ADVOCACY:
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There are different advocacies to address and solve discrimination to officers and members as medical practitioners as well as specific problems in their profession. Although lobbying for various candidates are not allowed, we have pursued several discriminatory practices by various groups namely:
A TRIBUTE TO OUR DEAR FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE, DR. NOLI ZOSA
We are gathered today to honor a very dear friend, a child of God, Dr. Noli Zosa,
born in Cebu Province and raised in the Philippine heartland. He persevered,
knowing fully well he would not receive all the beautiful things he was promised,
because he firmly believed his efforts would deliver a better life for those who
followed. He belonged to a generation of dignity, integrity, honesty and courage
with strong convictions.He had the vision that one day his life would be devoted
to upholding and sharing the vicissitudes of life and uplifting his countrymen.
He encouraged progress not by pushing his ideas alone but by seeking your
ideas partnering with you to make things happen. Dr. Zosa showed his character
in his devotion to his family.
He was a proud husband to his loving wife Ate Nena, a proud brother, a gifted
father and a concerned individual as well, here in United States of America and
half the globe, the Philippines, the country he loved best.
He prided himself as a very caring man, as a human being and as a friend. He always possessed that burning desire to extend a helping hand when necessity dictates.He was endowed with a sense of community, a life of worship, a reception of the Lord’s word and indeterminate challenges. His vision was beyond imagination.
The best thing that we could remember Dr. Zosa is that he brought so much life, love and joy to those who knew him and a bigger pride to his family.
He offered and sacrificed his body and soul for the ultimate realization and success of the PMASC. Perhaps he truly wanted that the missions and goals of our organization be fulfilled with utmost honor and dignity. Arguments, discussions and solutions were choices in a varied cuisine during our meetings and at the end of the day, all were good, complete agreement with joyful results. With Dr. Zosa’s perseverance, great understanding and total commitment, everything was attainable.
He exhibited his profound conviction and determination to overcome hardships and sufferings by his extreme desire to bring forth solace and comfort upon all his patients and friends alike.
During a break in one of our medical missions, he sat beside me,placed his arm on my shoulder and said, “Jun I am very, very happy, I never felt so invigorated, I feel young again”. Well I paused for a moment and tried to decipher what he meant, young again. But I totally understood him and I replied,”Dr. Zosa, your passion for helping people, your strong desire to make them well and with your ardent groovy communication skills had already rendered a 90% cure and the medications you have given would handle the rest of the 10% in the healing process”. He was overjoyed that he vowed to join more medical missions. That moment showed the sparkle in his eyes and radiance from his face fully signified the beauty of his soul. He ranked with the elite for he adored the truth in his words, his deeds and his visions.
His noble intentions served as a great inspiration as he paved the way for others to work for positive changes and also for others to emulate. As we have ventured on our mission as healers, like Mother Teresa, we need to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable. What better way to do that, than to use the hands of oblation to become the caring hands to cure and comfort. With insurmountable courage and integrity, with unwavering faith in values nothing is left to be doubted.
What really amazed us was that while he was on a pedestal so to speak, he definitely displayed his heavenly characters by adhering to Honesty; Integrity; Humility; Respect; Dedication. These were his valued divine traits.
Changes and challenges come and go but one thing inherent in our inner sanctum is our gracious motive of sharing, not only to our loved ones, our friends, our relatives but even to someone unknown to us. It matters not if we do not have much for it is in the spirit of giving that counts. And this is the portrayal of Dr. Zosa’s kindness.
Dr. Zosa, we are so thankful and so blessed for the times we all have spent together;the pleasant memories we all have savored together;the patients we have assisted together; the guiding missions we have fulfilled together; but most of all the laughter and tears we have shared together.
Goodbye our friend, you may be gone but never be forgotten.
We always love you and you will be in our hearts forever.
To Ate Nena and family, you will never be alone,the entire PMASC and Auxiliary will be with you always.
Till’ we meet again,our dearest friend, our brother.
In observance to the current situation, let us abide with all safety measures and be well.
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Licerio Castro, MD
President, PMASC 2020-2021
