Sotto wants state workers to submit medical certificates

MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Vicente Sotto III is pushing for a measure that will require government officials and employees to submit annual medical certificates in an effort to promote their well-being and ensure good health while performing public service.

Sotto filed Senate Bill 1818 that would mandate public officials and employees to annually submit a medical certificate showing fitness to work.

In his explanatory note, Sotto said public officers and employees are mandated to serve the people with utmost responsibility and efficiency at all times.

“Intelligence and skills alone are not enough to carry out this sworn duty. A good state of health is of equal importance and a critical factor in discharging one’s function, yet often overlooked,” Sotto said.

He said the proposed legislation seeks to require public officers and employees to annually submit a medical certificate as a means to ensure that they are in a state of health that would enable them to perform their tasks satisfactorily and provide prompt and adequate service to the public.

“Failure to submit the required medical certificate shall be considered as an administrative offense,” Sotto said.

In keeping with the commitment of public officers and employees to remain sincere and transparent to the Filipino people, Sotto said the bill shall allow access to, for lawful purposes, the medical certificate filed.

“Be it noted, however, that it excludes the inspection or reproduction of the laboratory test results attached to it in recognition that these are confidential and private documents,” he noted.

Sotto said the medical certificate required under this bill must be issued by a government physician after proper evaluation of the public servant’s physical examination and laboratory test results.

He said the medical certificates shall be submitted every first quarter of the year, on or before April 30, so as to give ample leeway for the conduct of physical exams and release of lab test results.