Cosmetic Surgery in The Philippines
A guide to plastic surgery regulations in the Philippines
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Organizations
The Department of Health is the governmental overseer of health and medicine in the Philippines. It maintains statistics on health as well as licensure of medical facilities.
Independant of government control, the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) unites the aims of the medical profession in the Philippines. It is responsible for organizing the continuing education of doctors as well as recognizing medical specilaties within the country.
The Professional Regulations Commission (PRC), Board of Medicine, registers all doctors. An online facility to allow verification of credentials is currently in developement.
The Philippine Association of Plastic, Aesthetic, and Reconstructive Surgeons (PAPRAS) is the professional organization for Plastic Surgeons in the Philippines. The association has a list of its members online.
Education
The basic medical degree takes 6 years. Following completion of a medical degree, graduates may opt to become registrars in a medical specialty. Plastic surgery is a recongnized sub-specialty of surgery in the Philippines. At the completion of registrar training a board examination is required to complete the specialty.
About 4 surgeons complete training in plastic surgery each year. Training programmes for specialization are accredited by the the PRC and are evaluated every 4 years.
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There is mandatory continuing education and doctors must re-register every 3 years. Re-accreditation is based on a CME credit system, with physicians required to obtain 100 credits a year under the PMA's ethical guideline (250 credits in a 3 year period are required by law before re-registration).
Credits are obtained from training courses, lectures, conferences - for example attendance at a one hour lecture is worth 5 credits - so a physician would need to attend 20 hours of lectures each year to retain the right to practice.
Complaints
Formal complaints may be dealt with by the Professional Regulations Commission, which has the power to discipline, fine or suspend the right to practice of physicans found negligent or culpable.
Complaints may also be addressed to any professional body to which a physican belongs and will be looked at by the ethical committee of that body. Civil proceedings may also be undertaken, though compensation claims cannot be lodged as there is no professional liability in the Philippines.
Storage and Access to Medical Records
There are no specific data protection laws in the Philippines, though a right to privacy is part of civil law. Doctors are bound by ethical rules to protect their patients information and provide access to that data upon request.
Resources
Ministry of Health
San Lazaro Compound, Tayuman, Sta. Cruz, Manila
tel: +63 2 743 830
website: http://www.doh.gov.ph/
Philippines Medical Association
PMA Building, North Avenue Quezon City, 1100 Philippines
tel: +63 2 929-6366
email: phimedas@yahoo.com
website: http://www.pma.com.ph/index.php
Professional Regulations Commission
Registration is by the Professional Regulations Commission, Board of Medicine
website: http://www.prc.gov.ph/
Formal complaints procedure:
website: http://www.prc.gov.ph/legalservices.asp?svc_id=2
The Philippine Association of Plastic, Aesthetic, and Reconstructive Surgeons
Room 305 Medical Arts Building
Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital
P. Sanchez St.,
Sta. Mesa,
Manila, Philippines
fax: (632) 714-7465
website: http://www.papras.org
locate members: http://www.papras.org/papras_members.html