The Medical Profession
Profession – a type of job that requires special education, training, or skill.
Medical Profession - the body of individuals who are qualified to practice medicine, teach medicine, manage medical institutions and programs, and the like.
A profession is something a little more than a job, it is a career for someone that wants to be part of society, who becomes competent in their chosen sector through training; maintains their skills through continuing professional development (CPD); and commits to behaving ethically, to protect the interests of the public.
The professions are for you if you want...
-an occupation which will help you to build your skills and develop your expertise in a field which interests you;
-to keep learning, be challenged and stay up to date with the latest developments in your chosen area;
-to solve problems, do good work, and be involved in making decisions which help to improve people’s lives
-to earn more money! Professionalism pays: people with professional body membership will earn more than those without.
http://www.totalprofessions.com/more-about-professions/what-is-a-profession
Categories of Physicians in the Philippines
There are conventionally 3 categories of physicians in the Philippines: basic-generalist physicians; specialist physicians; and subspecialist physicians.
A graduate of a conventional medical school in the Philippines is a basic-generalist physician. A basic-generalist physician is one who is competent in the basic processes and skills in managing the general health concerns of individuals, families, and communities. He / she can be known as primary care physician or general practitioner.
A specialist physician is a basic-generalist physician who afterward undergoes focused and in-depth training to be competent in managing certain specific health concerns of individuals, families, and communities. He / she can be a family medicine physician, internist, pediatrician, obstetrics-gynecologist, general surgeon, neurologist, etc.
A subspecialist physician is a basic-generalist physician and a specialist physician who afterward undergoes focused and in-depth training to be competent in managing certain specific area of his / her specialty.
The following table shows the other differences among the 3 categories of physicians (applicable to clinician-physicians):
Note 1: Ideally, the specialist and subspecialist should maintain the basic-generalist competencies.
Note 2: Ideally, the subspecialist should maintain the specialist competencies.
The following table will encompasses both clinician- and non-clinician physicians like public health physicians, hospital administration physicians, etc.
Note 1: Ideally, the specialist and subspecialist should maintain the basic-generalist competencies.
Note 2: Ideally, the subspecialist should maintain the specialist competencies.
The following table will encompasses both clinician- and non-clinician physicians like public health physicians, hospital administration physicians, etc.
Philippine Commission on Higher Education Requirements for the Practice of Medicine in the Philippines
Graduates of a CHED-approved medical school program shall be conferred with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. Graduates may use the title “M.D.” after their names, only after they have been issued the license to practice medicine by the Professional Regulations Commission. The degree of Doctor of Medicine is the primary educational qualification for the Physicians’ Licensure Examination (PLE) in the Philippines.
The Doctor of Medicine Program is at least a four (4)-year post baccalaureate program consisting of basic science and clinical courses. The medical schools may adopt different types of curricula like discipline-based, integrated, problem based, community-based, competency-based and outcome-based or any other innovative designs, provided the program outcomes are achieved.
Internship is the last phase of the basic training of the physician. Satisfactory completion of the 12-month internship is a requirement for taking the Physician Licensure Examination (PLE). The implementation of the Postgraduate Internship Program shall be supervised and monitored by the Association of Philippine Medical Colleges (APMC) recognized by the CHED.
The main goal of the Doctor of Medicine program is to develop professional physicians for the Philippine healthcare system. The graduate of the Doctor of Medicine program is a primary care physician who can pursue general private medical practice after passing the Physician Licensure Examination (PLE).
With additional training, graduates of MD program may pursue any of the following careers to include:
· General medical practitioner
- Local Government Unit Physician
- School Physician
- Company/Corporate Physician
- Community Physician
· Clinic specialist
· Researcher/Medical Scientist/innovator
· Health Professional teacher
· Health Administrator
· Health Information Manager
· Health Economist
· Health Policy Maker
Professional Regulations Commission
No person shall engage in the practice of medicine in the Philippines unless he is at least twenty-one years of age, has satisfactorily passed the corresponding Board of Examination and is a holder of a valid Certificate of Registration duly issued to him by the Board of Medical Examiners.
Philippine Medical Association
The Philippine Medical Association is the primary medical association of the Philippines, covering medical practitioners and component medical groups from the entire country.
All physicians licensed by the Professional Regulations Commission (PRC) to practice medicine in the Philippines are eligible for membership in the Philippine Medical Association (PMA).
All Professional Regulations Commission certified physicians are encouraged to be members of the Philippine Medical Association, especially those who will practice and will practice medicine for a long time in the Philippines. PMA is the accredited professional organization recognized by all government agencies such as the Professional Regulations Commission, Department of Health, PhilHealth, etc. Getting a certification and accreditation from these latter agencies for the practice of medicine in the Philippines usually requires a certification of membership in good standing in PMA.
The other benefits are stated by PMA (2014):
· It promotes professional growth and extends medical knowledge to all its members through its continuing education program.
· It elevates the standards of medical education and practice.
· It ensures the enactment of just medical laws.
· It brings together and unites the entire medical profession of the Philippines.
· It protects the legitimate rights and privileges of the physicians.
· It promotes fraternal relations among physicians and between physicians and allied professionals.
· It is an authoritative source of information regarding health disease and medical practice.
· It ensures that the Code of Ethics among Physicians is complied with.
· It governs the activities and all members who have undergone specialized training in the different fields of Medicine; organize the professional societies in specialized disciplines; standardize the composition and function of the certifying Board of each specialty.
· It promotes the observance of proper conduct and decorum that befits the physician’s calling through its implementation of protocol and correct procedures.
· It promotes leadership, professional development, academic excellence community development, and research through its different PMA awards.
· It gives mutual aid benefits through its legal benefits, disability and death benefits.
Summary
Thus, the Philippine medical profession is the body of individuals who are qualified to practice medicine, teach medicine, manage medical institutions and programs, and the like in the Philippines. The minimum requirement is a certification to practice medicine in the Philippines by the Philippine Professional Regulations Commission. After this certification, the physicians can decide to continue on to pursue specialization and subspecialization in any field of medicine. In the Philippines, the medical profession is represented by the Philippine Medical Association. Medical specialty and subspecialty organizations are under the Philippine Medical Association.
ROJ@17apr7;17apr12;17may3