1 Filipino, 6 foreigners arrested for 'operating illegal medical clinic' in Makati City
A Filipino and six foreigners have been arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for reportedly operating an illegal medical clinic in Makati City.
In a statement issued on Monday, March 30, the NBI said the “illegal medical practitioners” were arrested by the bureau’s special action unit (SAU) last March 19. Their names were not disclosed.
It said that during the operation, “four foreign nationals were caught in the act of performing invasive medical procedures.”
It also said that “the clinic’s foreign managers were also arrested for orchestrating the unauthorized practice, alongside a Filipino receptionist for her involvement in the facility's illegal operations.”
After their arrest, the NBI said they were charged before the Makati City Office of the Prosecutor for violations of Section 28 of Republic Act (RA) 2382, the Medical Act of 1959, and Section 45(e) and (d) of RA 10918, the Philippine Pharmacy Act.
It said the operation was conducted based on information that a clinic was conducting invasive medical procedures without the required government permits.
It added that surveillance showed that the clinic was charging as much as P220,000 for hair transplant procedures.
After verification, it also said that the Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC) confirmed that the foreign nationals involved did not possess the required licenses or special temporary permits to practice medicine in the Philippines.