14 October 2005
Undertaking Medical Missions to the Philippines
The Philippine Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) enumerates the guidelines for the conduct of medical missions.
 Secure special permits
Foreign physicians, including former Filipinos, intending to conduct medical missions in the Philippines, would need to secure temporary special permits from the Philippine Professional Regulation Commission (PRC). The following are the requirements:
1. Letter from the sponsoring local association or organization requesting the PRC and the concerned Professional Regulatory Board for the issuance of temporary special permits to the members of the medical team, indicating the date and venue of the medical mission;
2. Endorsement from the Philippine Department of Health (DOH);
3. Endorsement from the Philippine Medical Association;
4. Curriculum vitae and copy of current/ valid medical licences of the medical team members; and;
5. PRC Registration Fee of PhP 1,000.00 (around AUD 27.00) for each member of the team who will be issued a temporary special permit.
Applications for issuance of temporary special permits must be submitted to the PRC not later than ninety (90) days before the scheduled date of the medical mission.
The flight details of the mission should also be provided at the soonest as the CFO arranges port courtesies upon arrival in Manila.
Importation of medicines for the purpose of the mission
If the members of the medical mission team intend to bring the donated medicines as part of their baggage allowance, it is suggested that the items be limited to a non-commercial quantity and declare them as personal effects. Please note that each passenger is only allowed to bring two (2) baggage/ boxes as part of his/her personal baggage allowance; anything in excess may be subject to duties and taxes. The Philippine Bureau of Customs (BOC) reserves the right to inspect these baggage/ boxes upon arrival, and there is also the possibility that these items may not be immediately released at the BOC without prior clearance/ endorsement from pertinent government agencies.
Duty-free donations of medicines
Donations of medicines may only qualify for exemption from duties if these are consigned to government and private (primary and secondary) hospitals duly licensed by the DOH. It is thus advisable to identify a qualified hospital that would serve as consignee for the donation.
The following are the requirements for securing duty-free clearance from the Philippine Department of Finance (DOF):
A. From the Donor
1. Deed of Donation duly authenticated by the Philippine Embassy or Consulate;
2. Packing list or itemized list of donated items containing the following information:
a. Generic name/ brand name;
b. Formulation;
c. Dosage forms/ strengths;
d. Batch/ lot number and expiration date of at least six (6) months upon arrival in the Philippines; and;
e. Name and address of the manufacturer.
3. Product catalogue and/or technical description of products to be donated; and
4. Shipping documents.
Important: The name listed as donee/ consignee in the deed of donation must be the same as that appearing in the shipping documents.
B. From the Donee/ Consignee.
1. Letter to the DOF/ National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) requesting for the issuance of duty-free clearance for the donation;
2. Endorsement from the DOH- Bureau of International Health Cooperation (BIHC);
3. Duly notarized Deed of Acceptance stating that the donee is assuming all responsibilities with regard to the item(s) being donated;
4. Distribution plan of the donated items;
5. An authenticated document signed by both the donor and the donee indicating who will assume the responsibility of the payment of Value Added Tax (VAT) that may be imposed on the donation; and;
6. Current and valid DOH Licence to Operate.
The processing of documents for the issuance of duty-free clearance from government agencies concerned requires a lead time of at least thirty (30) days. Please note also that the donation, even if granted exemption from duties would still be subject to VAT, which is computed at ten percent (10%) of the total landed cost of the shipment.
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