Revised Guidelines on Provision of Free Diagnostic, Medical and Neurologic Examinations for Filipino Boxing and Mixed Martial Arts Professionals in Selected DOH Hospitals

May 23, 2019

DOH ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 2019-0006

 

I. RATIONALE

The Games and Amusements Board (GAB), which regulates and supervises the conduct of professional boxing and other contact sports, and the DOH entered into Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) of August 15, 2017 for the provision of free medical, diagnostic, neurologic services to Filipino professional boxers as part of the athletes' application of professional licenses in recognition of the boxing and mixed martial arts sports as sources of Filipino pride and honor, and in consideration of Filipino boxing and martial arts aspirants usually coming from struggling families. TAacHE

In line with FOURmula One Plus for Health, the country's platform to boost universal health care, DOH and GAB entered into a new MOA on August 15, 2018 to continue the provision of free services to boxing professionals, and to include mixed martial arts professionals for a term of two years. The DOH hereby amends the implementing guidelines relative to the terms of the renewed Agreement.

II. OBJECTIVE

This Order provides guidance on the implementation of the DOH-GAB MOA for the provision of free diagnostic, medical and neurologic examinations for Filipino professional boxers and mixed martial artists (MMA) in selected DOH Hospitals.

III. SCOPE AND COVERAGE

This Administrative Order shall cover the implementation of the DOH-GAB MOA stipulations in the Games and Amusements Board, the 28 selected DOH Hospitals, three (3) Specialty Hospitals namely Lung Center of the Philippines (LCP), National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) and Philippine Heart Center (PHC), and other pertinent DOH offices as enumerated in this Order for two (2) years. DHIcET

IV. DEFINITION OF TERMS

1. Applicant — refers to a citizen of the Philippines, securing or requesting for a new professional boxing or mixed martial arts license from the GAB.

2. Boxing License — refers to the authority issued by the GAB in favor of a professional boxer to engage in a game, bout, tournament or contest of professional boxing.

3. Endorsement Letter — refers to a written letter issued by the GAB, signed by the GAB Chairman or his authorized representative, and addressed to the Chief of Hospital or Medical Center Chief of the selected DOH hospital or medical center, recommending the diagnostic, medical and neurologic examination of the Filipino professional boxer or mixed martial artist or applicant specified therein.

4. Filipino Professional Boxer — refers to a citizen of the Philippines, paid a sum of money or other equivalent compensation as a salary or prize money for participating in a game, bout, tournament or contest of professional boxing, and certified/endorsed as such by the Games and Amusements Board (GAB). HDICSa

5. Filipino Professional Mixed Martial Artist — refers to a citizen of the Philippines, paid a sum of money or other equivalent compensation as a salary of prize for participating in a game, bout, tournament or contest of professional mixed martial arts, and certified/endorsed as such by the GAB.

6. Knock Out (K.O.) — refers to a decision rendered in a professional boxing or mixed martial arts game, bout, tournament or contest after a boxer or mixed martial artist becomes unable to continue the fight within a ten (10)-second count, usually due to strong blow/s from his/her opponent, as declared by the referee.

7. Mixed Martial Arts License — refers to the authority issued by the GAB in favor of a professional mixed martial artist to engage in a game, bout, tournament or contest of professional mixed martial arts.

8. Renewal of License — refers to the act of requesting for the extension of the period of validity of the professional boxing or mixed martial arts license issued by the GAB.

V. GENERAL GUIDELINES

1. The DOH through the selected DOH hospitals as enumerated in Annex A shall provide free diagnostic, medical and neurologic examinations to all Filipino Professional Boxers and Mixed Martial Artists (MMA), and Applicants for purposes of new application or renewal of professional Boxing and Mixed Martial Arts Licenses as guided by the process flow detailed in Annex B. HcDSaT

2. The diagnostic, medical and neurologic examinations that shall be provided for free shall be strictly limited to those required by the GAB for purposes of issuance of new Boxing or Mixed Martial Arts License or its renewal, and shall not include treatment of existing illness nor in-patient admission.

3. Filipino Professional Boxers or MMA and Applicants for new or renewal of license regardless of membership to the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, shall be provided free services, provided that they are referred by the GAB as evidenced by an Endorsement Letter, and they are eligible to the Medical Assistance for Indigents Program (MAIP).

4. Filipino Professional Boxers and MMA slated to have international fights shall also be entitled to additional free diagnostic and medical services from the three selected DOH-supervised specialty hospitals.

5. Services detailed in this Order shall be exclusively for Filipino Professional Boxers or MMA and Applicants, and shall be non-transferable and non-convertible to cash.

6. DOH Hospitals including the three selected Specialty Hospitals shall regularly submit reports to the Field Implementation and Coordination Team (FICT) on the availment of these services, as well as financial reports on the utilization of the MAIP.

VI. SPECIFIC GUIDELINES

1. To ensure that only Filipino Professional Boxers or MMA, and Applicants avail of the benefits, the client shall be required to report first to the Office of the Medical Center Chief, or Office of the Chief of Hospital, and present the following documents:

a. Any government issued ID, or valid NBI Clearance for first-time Applicants

b. Previous GAB License (for boxers or mixed martial artists renewing licenses)

c. Endorsement Letter from the GAB

2. Filipino Professional Boxers and MMA and Applicants renewing or securing new licenses shall be entitled to the following free services from the selected DOH hospitals:

a. Medical Examination from any licensed government physician

b. Neurological Examination from a neurologist

c. Neurophysiological Examination (every three years) from a neurologist

d. Dilated Funduscopic Eye Exam by an ophthalmologist

e. Chest X-Ray

f. Electrocardiogram (12 Lead with Strip Tracing)

g. Hepatitis B Surface Antigen (HepBSAg) — quantitative for new license application, and qualitative for renewal license application

h. Drug Testing for THC and Methamphetamine (IDTOMIS)

i. Complete Blood Count

j. Urinalysis

k. Electroencephalogram (EEG)

l. SGPT (Serum Glutamic-Pyruvic Transaminase)

m. Pregnancy Test (for the females)

3. Filipino Professional Boxers or MMA slated to have international championship fights shall also be entitled to following additional services from the selected specialty hospitals for free: ASTcaE

a. Neurologic Clearance from a neurologist (using the GAB Authorized Form)

b. Hepatitis C screening

c. HIV counseling and screening (after consent as required by R.A. No. 11166, or the Philippine HIV and AIDS Policy Act)

4. Filipino Professional Boxers or MMA, and Applicants shall be entitled to free Computed Tomography (CT) scan or Magnetic Resonance Imaging/Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRI/MRA) provided that any of the following criteria has been satisfied:

a. Applicant has first undergone a neurologic examination in one of the identified DOH hospitals and a CT scan or MRI/MRA was recommended;

b. Applicant has a letter from a GAB physician specifically recommending CT scan or MRI/MRA due to history of defeat by Knock Out (K.O.), or temporary loss of consciousness in any of his/her previous professional fights in the preceding 12 months, or if the physician has noted problems in other parts of the body where CT scan or MRI/MRA will be the primary diagnostic modality; or DTCSHA

c. Applicant will be securing a license for the first time, and the radiologic examination will serve as baseline. MRI is recommended instead of a CT scan in this case, but if MRI/MRA is not available, CT scan shall suffice.

5. In cases wherein the DOH hospital is implementing private sector engagement or tie-up with a private provider for laboratory or diagnostic examinations needed by the applicants, or wherein it is implementing such tie-ups to continue providing services while the needed hospital equipment are non-functional, the DOH hospital shall provide the needed laboratory examination of the applicant, and shall shoulder the cost of the laboratory or diagnostic procedure.

6. The Office of the Medical Center Chief or Office of the Chief of Hospital shall designate focal point person/s responsible for providing assistance and facilitating the conduct of diagnostic, medical and neurologic examinations, and for the retrieval of the results for the applicants.

7. The DOH hospitals shall at all times observe R.A. 10173, or the Data Privacy Act of 2012, and medical confidentiality when releasing results of medical and laboratory examinations, and as such will release the results only to the applicants themselves or their authorized representatives bearing written and signed authorization letters. cDSAEI

8. Results of medical and laboratory examinations shall be released in sealed GAB-issued envelopes to the applicants, or to their authorized representatives bearing written and signed authorization letters.

9. Roles and Responsibilities of Agencies, Hospitals and Other Offices

a. Games and Amusements Board (GAB) shall:

1) Submit to the Field Implementation and Coordination Team (FICT) the list of Professional Boxers and MMA, and Applicants expected to avail of these benefits in the succeeding month including their geographic location based on the best proximity to the 28 DOH Hospitals where they will avail the services;

2) Develop standard forms which will be utilized in endorsing Filipino Professional Boxers, MMA and Applicants to selected DOH Hospitals. These forms include but not limited to Endorsement Letter, Laboratory Request Form, and CT Scan/MRI/MRA Request Form;

3) Issue Endorsement Letters to selected DOH Hospitals for the Filipino Professional Boxers or MMA and Applicants; CScTED

4) Come up with its own internal policy to ensure integrity of the implementation of the DOH-GAB MOA;

5) Validate the integrity of the medical and laboratory results submitted by the Filipino Professional Boxers and MMA and Applicants by communicating with the concerned DOH Hospitals after first securing their written and signed consent; and

6) Quarterly submit to FICT the list of professional boxers and MMA, and Applicants who were provided with free services in the 28 DOH Hospitals.

b. Office of the Field Implementation and Coordination Team (FICT) shall:

1) Monitor the implementation of this Order in the selected hospitals, and shall review and recommend revision of the policy, if necessary;

2) Coordinate with the Office of the Administration, Financial Management Team (AFMT) and the Finance Management Service (FMS) to ensure that the necessary adjustment of MAIP funds for the 28 selected DOH Hospitals can accommodate the number of Filipino Professional Boxers and Mixed Martial Artists and Applicants; and

3) Provide recommendations to the Secretary of Health and the Executive Committee on the yearly renewal or expansion of the DOH-GAB MOA.

c. The 28 DOH Hospitals as listed in Annex A of this Order shall:

1) Provide the agreed upon requested diagnostic, medical and neurologic examinations for free to Filipino Professional Boxers and Mixed Martial Artists, and Applicants bearing GAB Endorsement Letters;

2) Inform the GAB in writing within 48 hours when the hospital equipment necessary to provide the needed diagnostic examinations becomes non-functional, as well as when the equipment have been repaired and restored fully functional;

3) Cooperate with the GAB in its efforts to validate and authenticate results of medical and laboratory examinations submitted by the Filipino Professional Boxers and MMA and Applicants, provided the GAB is able to show proof of their consent from the applicants and statutory requirements on data privacy are observed; and

4) Quarterly submit to the FICT the list of Filipino Professional Boxers and Mixed Martial Artists, and Applicants provided with free services including the corresponding financial assistance provided through MAIP. cDCEIA

10. Funding

The cost of providing free diagnostic, medical and neurologic examinations of Filipino professional Boxers, Mixed Martial Artists and Applicants classified as indigent by medical social workers shall be charged to the MAIP funds and other available funds provided to the respective 28 DOH hospitals as listed in this Order, subject to existing guidelines.

VII. REPEALING AND SEPARABILITY CLAUSE

A.O. No. 2017-0020 is hereby rescinded. In the event that any provision or part of this Order is declared unauthorized or declared invalid by any court of law or competent authority, those provision not affected by such declaration shall remain valid and effective.

VIII. VALIDITY

This Order is valid for two (2) years, until 17 August 2020, as identified in the MOA. ISHaCD

IX. EFFECTIVITY

This Order shall take effect fifteen (15) days after publication to an official gazette or a newspaper of general circulation.

(SGD.) FRANCISCO T. DUQUE III, MD, MScSecretary of Health

ANNEX A

List of DOH Hospitals

Where Filipino Professional Boxers or Mixed Martial Artists, and Applicants Shall Avail of the Free Medical, Diagnostic and Neurologic Examinations

 

REGION	NAME OF FACILITY	ADDRESS OF FACILITY
NCR	Amang Rodriguez Memorial Medical Center	Sumulong Highway, Barangay Santo Niño, Marikina City
NCR	Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center	Rizal Avenue, Santa Cruz, Manila
NCR	Philippine Orthopedic Center	Maria Clara corner Banawe Streets, Quezon City
NCR	Quirino Memorial Medical Center	Katipunan Road, Project 4, Quezon City
NCR	Rizal Medical Center	Pasig Boulevard, Pasig City
NCR	Tondo Medical Center	Honorio Lopez Boulevard, Balut, Tondo, Manila
NCR	Valenzuela Medical Center	Karuhatan, Valenzuela City
CAR	Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center	Governor Pack Road, Baguio City
Region I	Ilocos Training and Regional Medical Center	Parian, City of San Fernando, La Union
Region I	Region I Medical Center	Arellano Street, Dagupan City
Region II	Cagayan Valley Medical Center	Carig, Tuguegarao City, Cagayan
Region III	Doctor Paulino J. Garcia Memorial Research and Medical Center	Mabini Street, Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija
Region III	Jose B. Lingad Memorial Regional Hospital	Dolores, San Fernando City, Pampanga
Region III	Bataan General Hospital and Medical Center	Manahan Street, Tenejeros, Balanga City, Bataan
Region IV-A	Batangas Medical Center	Kumintang Ibaba, Batangas City, Batangas
Region V	Bicol Medical Center	Concepcion Pequeña, Naga City
Region VI	Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital	Lacson Street, Bacolod City
Region VI	Western Visayas Medical Center	Q. Abeto Street, Mandurriao, Iloilo City
Region VII	Governor Celestino Gallares Memorial Medical Center	M. Parras Street, Tagbilaran City, Bohol
Region VII	Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center	B. Rodriguez Street, Cebu City
Region VIII	Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center	Magsaysay Boulevard, Tacloban City
Region IX	Zamboanga City Medical Center	Dr. Evangelista Street, Santa Catalina, Zamboanga City
Region X	Amai Pakpak Medical Center	Wawalayan Caloocan, Marawi City, Lanao Del Sur
Region X	Northern Mindanao Medical Center	Capitol Compound, Cagayan De Oro City
Region X	Mayor Hilarion A. Ramiro Sr. Medical Center	Maningcol, Ozamis City, Misamis Occidental
Region XI	Davao Regional Medical Center	Apokon, Tagum City, Davao Del Norte
Region XI	Southern Philippines Medical Center	J.P. Laurel Avenue, Bajada, Davao City
Region XII	Cotabato Regional and Medical Center	Sinsuat Avenue, Rosary Heights X, Cotabato City

 

Filipino Professional Boxers and Mixed Martial Artists slated to have international fights shall also be qualified to avail of the free services in three of the four Specialty Hospitals: DHESca

 

REGION	NAME OF FACILITY	ADDRESS OF FACILITY
NCR	Philippine Heart Center	East Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City
NCR	National Kidney and Transplant Institute	East Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City
NCR	Lung Center of the Philippines	Quezon Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City

 

ANNEX B

Flowchart for the Provision of Services

 

 

 

Published in the Philippine Daily Inquirer on May 26, 2019.