The Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) Bayanihan E-Konsulta initiative cannot issue a fit-to-work medical certificate for workers, Vice President Leni Robredo clarified on Sunday, April 11.
(Photo by Jansen Romero / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
Robredo said that the team of volunteer doctors told the OVP that they cannot issue a medical certificate for fit to work because they have to physically see the patients to issue the certificate.
Companies and employers require a medical certificate for fit to work before allowing their workers to go back to work or start a job contract. Some will even require a negative RT-PCR test.
The vice president said some outpatients consult with her office’s Bayanihan E-Konsulta hoping to get a medical certificate.
“Gustuhin man po nating mapagbigyan lahat, nagiging careful lang po iyong mga doktor natin na ayaw nilang magbigay ng ganoon, ng fit to work, na hindi naman nila nakitang personal iyong pasyente (As much as we want to accommodate everyone, our doctors are only being careful because they don’t want to give that, a fit to work, when they don’t see the patient in person),” she explained during her weekly radio show.
This free teleconsultation service aims to provide immediate medical help to those without access to doctors, hospitals, and other medical information.
“So kami po, while gusto naming makatulong—kung may nararamdaman kayo, puwede iyan sa atin, pangangailangan ng may makausap na doktor, puwede iyan sa atin—pero iyon lang, iyong issuance ng fit to work certificate, iyon ‘iyong hindi natin magagawa (So, for us, although we want to help—if you are feeling ill, we can help you, if you need to talk to a doctor, it’s alright here—but that, the issuance of fit to work certificate, that’s what we cannot provide),” Robredo added.
The Bayanihan E-Konsulta initiative, which seeks to decongest hospitals and make medical advice accessible to those without access, was launched last week via its official Facebook page.
Those who want a free medical teleconsultation need to go to the official Facebook, click “send message,” and answer the queries.
The volunteer operators will link the patients to some 500 volunteer doctors who signed up for the OVP’s initiative.
It has since closed temporarily its signup process after more than 2,300 call center operators and doctors signed up to volunteer. The OVP said it will finish onboarding the first batch of volunteers before opening the registration again.