Foreign Surgical and Medical Mission (FSMM) to the Philippines
Foreign medical professionals must apply for Special Temporary Permits to practice their professions while conducting the medical mission in the Philippines. Any foreign organization intending to bring medicines and/or medical equipment to be donated or used during the conduct of medical missions must also comply with the requirements of the Philippines’ Department of Health – Bureau of International Health Cooperation (DOH-BIHC).
All applications for FSMM shall be submitted to the Philippine Medical Association who shall forward it to appropriate professional groups and the Department of Health (DOH).
Read the full guidelines on FSMM: Joint A.O. No. 2009-0030 – Revised Policies and Guidelines in the Conduct of Foreign Surgical and Medical Missions (FSMM in the country) | A.O. No. 2012-0030 – Guidelines on Foreign Surgical and Medical Mission Program in Support of Universal Health Care/ Kalusugan Pangkalahatan
View the Checklist of Requirements: 2023-01-18 Checklist for Foreign Surgical and Medical Missions
Download the Application Form: 2021-09-22 Application Form Authority to Practice by a Foreigner
For Donations of Health- and Health-Related Products: 2023-01-18 Checklist for Foreign Donations
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
STEP 1: Each member of the foreign medical team must submit the following documents in applying for temporary license to practice during the duration of the mission. All documents must be in English or with English translation:
- Valid/current license from country of origin, authenticated by the Embassy/Consulate (please refer to Authentication procedures and requirements in the list of Consular Services)
- Board certification (specialty), authenticated by the Embassy/Consulate (please refer to Authentication procedures and requirements in the list of Consular Services)
- Curriculum vitae, acknowledged by the Philippine Embassy/Consulate (please refer to Authentication procedures and requirements in the list of Consular Services)
- Passport sized picture in four copies (taken within one year)
- Application letter addressed to
Bureau of International Health Cooperation
The Letter must contain the following information:
- Type of mission (medical, surgical or both)
- Duration of the mission and inclusive dates
- Activities and list of areas where the activities will be conducted
- The following are additional requirements if the foreign mission team members intend to bring drugs, and/or medicines, medical supplies and medical equipment to be donated or used during the mission:
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- Itemized list of the items together with the quantity and the expiration dates for drugs and medicines
- Written consent from the host local government executive (governor/mayor) and/or of the health facility where the mission will be conducted
- Names and specialties of the mission team members
- Flight details
- Deed of donation authenticated at the country of origin (please refer to Authentication procedures and requirements in the list of Consular Services)
- Deed of acceptance from the host hospital/Local Government Unit (LGU)
- Drugs and medicines to be donated should have a shelf life of at least 12 months upon arrival in the country and the said medicine shall be used solely for the scheduled mission.
- Application must be submitted 60 days before the date of mission to facilitate clearance/s from DOH and other agencies.
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- Letter of certification from the sponsoring host organization (LGU or Non-Government Organization (NGO)) 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 (SEC) registration must be submitted.
- Notarized letter of guarantee from both the medical mission group and the host organization assuming full responsibility for the outcome of the missions.
STEP 2: The PMA, upon receipt of all requirements, will forward the application to the concerned specialty societies for evaluation of credentials. The DOH will be informed immediately of the presence of drugs, medical supplies and medical equipment.
STEP 3: The DOH shall facilitate issuance of clearance by its Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Bureau of Health Devices and Technology (BHDT) for the above mentioned goods.
STEP 4: After the evaluation of the missioner’s credentials by the concerned Specialty Society, the PMA shall send a letter of endorsement to DOH.
STEP 5: The DOH shall then endorse the documents to Professional Regulation Commission (PRC).
STEP 6: The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), after final review, shall issue the Special Temporary Permit to Practice to concerned foreign missioners. The lead time for the processing of the application are as follows:
PMA – 2 weeks before the mission date
DOH – 1 week before the mission date
PRC – 3 weeks before the mission date
POST-MISSION REQUIREMENTS
A Post-mission report shall be submitted by the head of the foreign surgical and/or medical missions, concurred/noted by the President of the local component society of PMA, and/or specialty society and the LGU 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 age 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
All materials submitted to the oversight agencies shall be the property of the Philippine counterpart and may not be used for advertisement, solicitation or medical publication without the written and expressed approval of the local medical society and/or specialty society of the PMA and the local counterpart. Any intellectual output as journal or publication must include the local physicians as senior authors.
OTHER INFORMATION
- Former Filipino Registered Health Professionals who are part of a Medical/Surgical Mission Team may practice their profession in the Philippines upon presentation of proof of valid and current PRC licenses. Otherwise, they have to renew their licenses upon submission of the following requirements (Presidential Decree No. 541):
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- Photocopy of current/valid passport (page 1 and the page showing the date of arrival in the Philippines)
- Photocopy of PRC license and valid certificate of registration
- License/Certificate of Registration in the adopted country or Certification of employment with letterhead indicating the job description within the definition of the applicant’s profession
- Four pieces of recent passport size pictures (taken within one year)
- Payment of prescribed fees at PRC
- Certificated of training and board certification (for specialists)
- Application for Temporary Special Permit (PRC form 103-A)
- Foreign Religious groups/missionaries practicing medicine in the country shall abide by the same requirements and adhere to the guidelines. These missioners who serve for longer period of time shall signify their intention to continue living in the Philippines to pursue missionary works. They shall secure Special Temporary Permit, which is to be renewed annually. The following must be submitted:
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- Certification for their congregation that the medical works are purely for charity purposes and with no remuneration involved whatsoever.
- A certification from the congregation assuming the responsibility for any action of the said physician
- The missionary should submit to PMA an annual mission report including a list of patients treated
- The missionary is required to attend PMA or component societies’ Continuing Medical Education (CME) related activities once a year to update their medical knowledge.
- The missionary who conducted his missionary works in the province must coordinate with the PMA component society for proper identification and monitoring.