PROCEDURES: FOREIGN SURGICAL & MEDICAL MISSIONS

1. 1.The Foreign Surgical and Medical Mission (FSMM) Team submits the following requisite documents of each participant to the Philippine Embassy/Consulate for authentication.

• Duly completed application form for a Special Temporary Permit from the Professional Regulation Commission (Application forms may be downloaded from the website of the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) – http//: www.pma.com.ph
• Valid/current license from country of origin
• Board certification (specialty)
• Curriculum vitae
• Passport sized picture in four copies (taken within one year)
• Application letter addressed to the President of the PMA to contain the following information

1.   Type of mission (medical, surgical or both)

2.   Duration of the mission and inclusive dates

3. Names and specialties of the mission team members

4. Written consent from the host local government executive (governor/mayor) and/or chief of the health facility where the mission will be conducted

• Letter of certification from the sponsoring host hospital/Local Government Unit/Non-Government Organizations, certifying the need and type of mission to be conducted. Cost of post-care mission of morbidities/mortalities arising from the mission will be shouldered as well by the host organization
• Proof of juridical entity (certified true copy of the Securities and Exchange Commission registration)
• Notarized letter of Guarantee from both the medical mission team and the host organization assuming full responsibility for the outcome of the mission.

If the FSMM members intend to bring drugs, and/or medicines, medical supplies and medical equipment to be donated or used during the mission, the following are additional documents:

• Itemized list of the items together with the quantity and the expiration dates for drugs and medicines (Medicine to be donated should have a shelf life of at least 12 months upon arrival in the country and shall be used solely for the scheduled mission)
• Flight details of the members of the FSMM
• Deed of Donation
• Duly notarized Deed of Acceptance from the host hospital/LGU/NGO

NB:All documents issued outside the Philippines should be authenticated by the Philippine Embassy/Consulates of the country of origin and must be in English or with English translation. Submission of the application must be 60 days before the date of the mission to facilitate clearance/s from various government agencies.

1. 2.The Philippine Embassy/Consulate authenticates the documents and returns these to the FSMM team.

1. 3.The FSMM team transmits all documents either to the Commission on Filipinos Overseas or directly to the following specialty societies:

1. Medical Association (PMA) – for physicians
2. Philippine Dental Association (PDA) – for dentists
3. Philippine Nurses Association (PNA) – for nurses

If transmitted through CFO, the CFO transmits the documents to the concerned specialty societies (PMA, PDA, PNA)

1. 4.Upon receipt and evaluation of all the documents, the PMA endorses the application together with the required documents to Philippine College of Surgeons (PCS), if a member of the FSMM is a surgeon. The PMA will also inform the DOH of the presence of drugs, medicines, medical supplies and medical equipment.

1. 5.The DOH shall facilitate the issuance of the necessary clearances with the Food and Drug Administration and the Bureau of Health Devices and Technology for the medicines, medical supplies and medical equipment.

1. 6.After receipt of the documents and evaluation of the specialty societies, the PMA shall send a letter of endorsement to DOH

1. 7.The DOH endorses the documents to the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC).

1. 8.The PRC after final review issues the Special Temporary Permit to Practice to the members of the FSMM.

1. 9.The FSMM conducts the medical/surgical mission to the identified area(s).

10. The head of the FSMM submits a port-mission report, concurred/noted by the President of the local component society of PMA, and/or specialty society and the LGU/NGO concerned, to the oversight agencies (DOH, PMA, PRC) 15 days after the completion of the mission. All records and audio-visual documents must also be submitted in triplicate form. The post-mission report should contain the following minimum basic information:

• Number and ages of cases seen
• Diagnosis of patients
• List of medicines distributed and surgical interventions done
• Endorsements to the necessary health facilities (follow-up, further evaluation and management)
• Morbidities and mortalities, if any