These laudable initiatives are organized by civic clubs, school alumni, drug manufacturers, church groups and parishes, Filipinos living overseas, and other socio-civic associations and other institutions.

Composing a medical mission are volunteer medical specialists, surgeons, dentists, nurses, medical technologists, community organization experts.

A medical mission is sent to a community that is seldom serviced by doctors, or to a place where there are inadequate medical, surgical and laboratory facilities.

There are medical missions put together by international humanitarian organizations and by the United Nations itself. Project Hope is one such massive endeavor, a complete hospital ship that goes around the world rendering free medical and surgical services.

The first trans-national Filipino-organized medical mission I can recall is Operation Brotherhood which catapulted to international fame Oscar Arellano, its organizer, in the 1950s. It extended medical services to victims of war in Korea, Cambodia, and Vietnam.

However, what Arellano did was not immediately replicated by local proponents. In fact, it was only in the mid-1980s when some small medical missions started to come forth, gaining public notice, sponsored by various church denominations.

Medical mission to Barangay Munting Tubig

Last Friday, I joined a medical mission organized and sponsored by the University of Batangas, Batangas City. The mission objective – Barangay Munting Tubig in the town of Ibaan, east of the province. The Philets Foundation, composed of alumni from the ertswhile Faculty of Philosophy and Letters, UST, was co-sponsor.

It was a pleasant sight watching teams of doctors, dentists, nurses, and medical technologists going about examining and treating obviously impoverished barangay residents. They all trooped to the community’s elementary school compound where its small multi-purpose covered hall was converted into a reception and treatment ward.

At the end of the mission day, around 4:00 in the afternoon, the project was able to administer the following services to underprivileged patients: medical, 261; dental, 76; blood sugar examination, 83; blood-typing, 107; and urinalysis, 79. Accordingly, free medicines were given the patients.

Catalino "Sammy" Samonte who is director of student affairs and external programs of the University of Batangas explained that their medical mission is part of the institution’s extension to various communities in the province. They have a sustaining program called Alalay Kità, Alalay Kita, the latter connotes a livelihood assistance. Sammy himself is a Philets alumnus.

Important community matters do come up when one engages in a casual conversation with residents of Munting Tubig. For example, Dante V. Acebo who is barangay chairman revealed to us a nagging problem of the community – the destroyed, punctured by deep craters, one-kilometer stretch of barangay road coming from Lipa City leading to Ibaan town.

This is a vital segment of the road since it is used to transport agriculture produce of the natives to different market places in Lipa. Acebo is hoping that some legislators with community funds to spare will undertake the construction of the barangay road, an all-important access of the farmers to their market.

I also met Dennis Toreja Perez, a young man concerned of his folks’ potentials of earning a living. He explained to us – with samples given to the visitors by Sammy – the one-of-a-kind Ibaan "tamales," a rare delicacy made of flour and pork fillings, and cooked like a "suman".

The rare foodstuff has only a seven-day shelf life. And upon our advice, Dennis may consult with the DoST for assistance to prolong its shelf-life so they can market their "tamales" outside of Batangas, thus, giving them additional income.

Other agencies that gave full support to the whole-day medical mission were DoH regional external office, with Dr. Linda Redulla, head; PNP, led by Supt. Cecilio Castillo, chief of police-community relation of Batangas PNP; PAMET, headed by Mrs. Constancia Samarita, president of the Batangas chapter; municipal and barangay officials led by Mayor Artemio Chua; and St. Patrick’s Hospital, Batangas City.

The participating mission officials: Atty. Jesus Victor Mayo, vice president, UB student/external affairs; UB College of Nursing and Midwifery, headed by Dean Bernadette Reyes; Mrs. Dorotea Pido and Mrs. Leonicia Montoya, medical mission advisers; Mrs. Rufina Dimalibot, department head.

In the short program, Ms. Marie Cristy Nuñez did the invocation, and with Ms. Hanna Vanessa Hernandez, performed intermission numbers; and Jasper Dave Pangan, MC.

The Philets Foundation was represented by Manny Azarcon and wife Lulu; Mrs. Lita Alviar Luga, and this columnist

PFIZER SUES PITC, BFAD. The anti-hypertension drug, Norvasc, is owned and registered by and under Pfizer, and for which the multi-national drug office in the country is suing the PITC and BFAD for importing from India the branded medicine without the former’s authority as patent owner

The Pfizer complaint states that BFAD induced the violation of the company’s patent rights by granting registration approval to PITC, according to its press statement.

Moreover, Pfizer says the lawsuit does not only concern a trade issue but a matter of public health, as well. Many products that enter the Philippines through parallel importation may carry health risks associated with counterfeits.