Medical Schools

The California Board of Medical Quality Assurance is to be commended for what appears on the surface as its intention to maintain high standards of medicine by studying foreign medical schools in order to establish “equivalency” in education (Part I, Dec. 11).

However, I regret the implications the article may have unleashed. To set the record straight: There is undeniably a critical lag in health technology in the Philippines. This goes hand in hand with the long-standing economic predicament of the country. That is precisely why Philippine medical school graduates have looked towards Western countries, especially the U.S., to further their postgraduate medical training. It is incorrect to imply that these physicians are thrust upon the American health-care system without the benefit of “equivalent” training.

On the contrary, numerous examinations must be taken by these applicants, before and after their U.S. residency programs. This sets the stage for their achievement of the same academic standards as set forth by their U.S. counterparts.

The observation that such physicians have not had a “disproportionate share of disciplinary actions” is to be lauded. It simply underlines the fact that they have proven themselves as being equal to the task. To attempt to declare it otherwise would be equivalent to a witch hunt. I hope the board is above that.

REMY ALMIRANTE, M.D.

Huntington Beach