‘You are foremost public servants:’ Nograles to new physicians

Physicians are public servants who owe it to the public to act with the highest responsibility, integrity, loyalty, efficiency, and great justice at all times, Civil Service Commission Chairperson Karlo Alexei Bendigo Nograles told the newly-licensed physicians during their oath taking at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) on Wednesday, April 19.

Nograles, who served as the keynote speaker in the event, said that a physician's duty is to uphold citizenship, embody the Hippocratic Oath, and be constantly cognizant of their duties to the country, its citizens, and humanity.

“Today's oath taking is not just a formality to begin practicing medicine. It is a solemn act, a solemn promise, to adhere strictly to the professional and ethical standards of the medical profession and to do no damage to medical patients in the pursuit of doing good for them,” he said.

The former cabinet secretariat during the Duterte administration also reminded the new physicians that “public service is a public trust” and being public servants entails an oath to uphold their own integrity.

“As you live your dreams, do not compromise your integrity. Whenever hard decisions need to be made, always go back to your foundational values,” Nograles said.

Nograles' remarks reinforce the Philippine Medical Association's Code of Ethics, which states that the fundamental goal of practicing medicine is “to serve all people, regardless of race, age, disease, disability, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic position, belief, or political affiliation.”

“In the workplace, you will be remembered through your professional achievements, but in life, you will be remembered for the lives that you have healed, you have saved, and you have touched,” he added.

Godofreda Dalmacion, the chairperson of the PRC Board of Medicine, concurred with Nograles, expressing that kindness is an essential trait in the medical profession, both in how physicians treat their patients and how they collaborate with their healthcare team.

“Commit yourself to be a true caregiver, to practice patient-focused care, and fully appreciate the human side of medicine. The practice of empathy, humility, and presence can go a long way in creating a positive impact on your patients' experiences,” she said in her opening remarks.

Meanwhile, Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) Chairperson Charito Zamora quoted Hippocrates, saying that “wherever the art of medicine is loved, there is also a love of humanity.”

Zamora encouraged the new physicians to be a symbol of hope, tenacity, courage, and go beyond the call of public duty and deliver the highest quality care with integrity, honesty, and compassion.

Nograles, who is also a lawyer, claimed that this is the first time in a while that a government official other than a physician has been invited to serve as a resource person at the oath taking ceremony.

Out of 2,887 examinees, the PRC administered the oath-taking ceremony for the 1,573 March 2023 Physician Licensure Examination (PLE) passers, tallying a passing rate of 54.49 percent.

Aira Cassandra Castro of the state-run Mariano Marcos State University dominated the examinations with a score of 89.00, while the University of Santo Tomas is the sole top-performing school, with 51 out of 61 students who passed.

The ceremony began with the procession of the topnotchers and several deans of medical schools.

‘Stay in the Philippines’

Nograles encouraged the new physicians to stay in the Philippines, saying that they can offer ‘greener pastures’ in medical treatment for Filipinos.

He cited other physicians who prioritized the public interest over their own interests, particularly Jose Dinio Del Rosario and Annie Claire Pekas, who both received an ‘Outstanding Public Officials and Employees for Dangal ng Bayan’ award for their selfless service to the community.

Nograles narrated how Del Rosario worked tirelessly as an intervention pediatric cardiologist, accepting patients from other hospitals so that he could perform life-saving cardiac procedures, as well as how Pekas' ambulatory surgery unit provided indigent patients with easier and more affordable access to hemodialysis.

“These are just two doctors of the many nameless, faceless doctors who continue to stay in public service, even when there are temptations to leave the country and seek greener pastures abroad,” Nograles said.

PRC Commissioner Jose Cueto Jr. echoed Nograles's thoughts, adding that there has been a debate as to whether the physicians in the country are enough.

“For the last several years, there has been a controversy whether we are in shortage of physicians, or we have just enough physicians,” Cueto said.

“Regardless, practicing a regulated profession such as Medicine is a privilege given to you by the state. Never take it for granted. Value the privilege given to you,” he added.

by: Rose Eunice Gacutan