Search on for RP patriotic doctors

MANILA, Philippines – In an effort to encourage more physicians to remain in the country, a civic group has set up an award that will recognize the dedication and patriotism of doctors who forgo higher paying jobs overseas.

The quest for The Outstanding Filipino Physicians (TOFP) is open to every natural-born or naturalized Filipino physician, at least  41 years old, of good moral character, whose integrity and dedication to the medical profession led to advancement in the medical field as well as public health and welfare, anchored on the Jaycee  tenet that “service to humanity is the best work of life.”

“Some have left for greener pastures overseas while others are now taking up a second degree nursing course. That’s why this search for The Outstanding Filipino Physicians (TOFP) is very timely to arrest the continuing brain drain in our country,” said Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (Philhealth)  president and chief executive officer Lorna Fajardo as she turned  over their agency’s sponsorship worth P500,000 to JCI Senate Philippines  president Carlos Co and 2008 TOFP chairman JCI Sen. Melandrew Velasco in  simple rites last June 25 at the Philhealth president’s conference room.

“Even Philhealth needs doctors to stay in the agency,” Fajardo said.

The 2008 TOFP search was formally launched by the JCI Senate Philippines  and  the Department of Health last April 9 at the National Kidney and Transplant  Institute in cooperation with Philhealth and the Philippine Charity  Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).

It was learned that PCSO, through chairman Sergio Valencia, a past president of the JCI Senate Philippines, has  committed to serve as institutional sponsor for this year’s search.

“It is to the doctors who have opted to dedicate their lives, their expertise and their careers to keep the people healthy and to cure the sick  in the country that the latest category of outstanding Filipinos  has been  dedicated,” said DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III at the TOFP  launching.

Duque said the search, which is one way of promoting love of country among physicians, is also an exercise that breeds a culture of passion, commitment and service among medical practitioners.

The JCI Senate Philippines, in tandem with technical experts from the DOH and Philhealth, have started combing the cities and the countryside in search of  Filipino doctors to receive the distinction of being chosen among this year’s Ten Outstanding Filipino  Physicians.

By September 26, the most deserving will be known.

Accomplished nomination forms and all supporting documents must be submitted on or before 6:00 p.m. of August 17, 2008 to: TOFP Award 2008 JCI Senate Philippines, Inc., 2nd Floor, JCI Philippines Building, 14 Don Alejandro Roces Avenue, Quezon City Tel. No. 412-5662, Tel. Fax: 374-4390; email:

[email protected] or its new blogsite: http://tofpjcisp2007.multiply.com.