Stop cartel on medical clinics for OFWs — solon

A member of the House of Representatives yesterday called on the Department of Health (DoH), Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to strictly implement the provision on the anti-decking or referral system as provided for in Republic Act 10022 or the Migrant and Overseas Filipino Workers Act, so as to abolish the cartel of medical clinics monopolizing the medical examinations of Filipino workers bound for Gulf countries.

In an interview, Zambales Rep. Ma. Milagros “Mitos” Magsaysay lamented that while there are no fewer than 190 medical clinics all over the country, medical check-ups and examinations as required of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) have been monopolized by only 17 clinics.

This, the lawmaker baled on the non-implementation by the DoH and DFA of the decking or referral system which had long been outlawed by RA 10022.

According to the solon, the 17 clinics were the only ones accredited by the Gulf Coordinating Council (GCC) to conduct medical examinations on workers seeking employment in their countries.

Under the decking system, these 17 clinics, under the umbrella of the GCC-approved Medical Centers Association (Gamca), share equally the numbers of workers who have to undergo medical examinations.

With around 295,000 OFWs leaving the country last year for Gulf countries, these 17 clinics shared an accumulated revenue of more than P2.5 billion at P8,500 per medical check-up of each worker.

“This association (Gamca) has controlled and made themselves the only group of clinics that will conduct examination and check-up of OFWS for the purpose of securing the medical certificate to be used as requirement for the issuance of visas in Middle East countries,” Magsaysay said. “Being accredited by the Gulf Coordinating Council is not an exemption to RA 10022.”

The solon added not only is the decking system illegal even if it was the GCC which had it imposed, but that it was also an affront to the country’s sovereignty.

“The mere fact Gamca claims the decking system was an imposition of the GCC means that it is not respecting the country’s laws. This is an affront to our sovereignty,” Magsaysay said.

“Hence, the DoH should work hand-in-hand with the DFA to ensure that other countries, including the GCC, respects our law and do away with this decking system,” Magsaysay said.

The lady solon said the government, through DoLE and the DFA, should immediately clarify with Gulf states the provisions of the law and the call for strict compliance.

“The law protects the freedom of OFWs to choose which medical clinic and laboratory will examine them. At the same time, it protects them against cartels that could dictate exorbitant examination fees,” Magsaysay said.

But during a recent hearing of the House committee on overseas Filipino and migrant workers, operators of non-Gamca clinics revealed violators of RA 10022 have claimed exemption as a result of the continued failure of DoH to release the implementing rules and regulations for the law’s implementation.

To this, Magsaysay retorted that an investigation should be conducted on the reasons for the delay and the DoH officials behind it as she added the possibility that dilatory tactics in the release of the IRR are designed to favor the Gamca clinics.

At the same time, Magsaysay said the government must be able to guarantee that only legitimate, competent and highly capable medical establishments will be accredited to conduct check-ups and examinations. –Charlie V. Manalo, Daily Tribune