The Philippine Online Chronicles

Around 60 doctors from the Philippine General Hospital (PGH), the teaching hospital of the University of the Philippines’ College of Medicine (UPCM), went on strike starting Monday to protest the removal of Dr. Jose Gonzales as PGH director, and his replacement by Eric Domingo.

“[We are walking out] to express our anger and dismay over the oppression and dubious removal from office of one of our own PGH doctors and to strongly protest the lack of democratic process in selecting our director,” said the 60 doctors in a statement.

Gonzales was originally elected PGH director in December of last year, following a 6-5 vote by the UP Board of Regents. However, the result was called into question after student regent Charisse Bañez, who voted for Gonzales, was found to have not been enrolled at the time of the vote. A second round of voting in February installed Domingo as the new director.

According to the protesters however, the College Council of the UP College of Medicine, who represents majority of the doctors and faculty members at PGH, already approved a resolution recognizing Gonzales as the PGH's duly appointed director.

The issue is currently pending in a Quezon City court, with a petition filed by Gonzales to stop Domingo from taking the directorial post.

“We call on our patients and the public for understanding as we will not neglect the care of critically ill and emergent conditions, but may sadly have to defer outpatient consultations, elective surgical procedures and non-essential administrative functions,” the protesters added.

According to PGH spokesman Dr. Michael Tee, PGH will remain open despite the boycott.

“Our operating room is open to accommodate emergency cases. The emergency room is also open,” he said.

Domingo added that it was "business as usual" at the hospital, as the protesters only account for around 10% of the hospital’s 650 doctors.