80 PGH doctors go on mass leave

Eighty doctors of the Philippine General Hospital have gone on mass leave to protest the removal of Dr. Jose Gonzales as PGH director and the installation of Dr. Eric Domingo as new PGH chief.

Dr. Jonas del Rosario, head of the Laban UP-PGH Movement, said the group has filed a petition for a temporary restraining order before a Quezon City court to protest Gonzales' removal.

Del Rosario said Dominngo was appointed and sworn in as director without due process.

He added that their 2-week leave involving faculty members and consultants will not paralyze hospital operations. "We are not paralyzing operations. The patients will be attended to and their needs met," he said.

The UP-PGH administration, meanwhile, assured the public that services at the Philippine General Hospital will not be hampered by the mass leave. Dr. Mike Tee, PGH spokesman, said the UP College of Medicine and PGH have around 650 common faculty members including 100 medical specialists, 580 medical officers, 200 fellows, 260 medical interns, 1400 nursing staff and 1200 administrative personnel.

"As of now, we don't expect a disruption on our hospital services. We assure students that the academic calendar will not be affected and we will not allow our patients to be hostaged in this struggle," Tee said.

Tee appealed to the UP-PGH faculty to accept the new appointment, pending a court decision. He said the PGH management is open to holding a dialogue with the striking doctors, and will not impose sanctions at this time.

"We also appeal to faculty to accept ruling of Board of Regents. Let's wait for the court decision and be gentleman enough to abide by the rule of law," he said.

Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral, meanwhile, said government hospitals are prepared to assist the PGH if needed including arbitration between the 2 groups.

via http://abs-cbnnews.com/nation/metro-manila/03/30/10/80-pgh-doctors-go-mass-leave