03/07/2026
I received reports that my medical certificate is being copied with forged signature, for the purpose of fraudulently requesting financial assistance from government offices.
Our clinic will be taking security measures to address this.
Joint Position Statement on the Forged Medical Certificates for Fraudulent Financial Assistance
The Canlaon Medical Society-Philippine Medical Association Inc (CMSI) and the Negros Occidental Medical Society (NOMS), component societies of the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) are united in our firm condemnation of individuals who, without proper medical licensure, forge medical certificates attributed to our members. These falsified documents are deceitfully submitted to local government units (LGUs) in attempts to illegitimately secure financial assistance.
Such actions are not only illegal and unethical but also significantly undermine the integrity of the medical profession and the trust bestowed upon physicians. They distort the rightful distribution of resources meant for legitimate beneficiaries and weaken public confidence in the healthcare system.
We unequivocally state the following:
1. Condemnation: We strongly denounce the forgery of medical certificates, particularly by those who are not licensed medical practitioners.
2. Vigilance In Verification: We implore all LGUs to exercise rigorous diligence in verifying the authenticity of medical certificates submitted for financial assistance. Verification processes should include direct confirmation with the issuing physician or our respective medical societies.
3. Legal Action: We commit to supporting and collaborating with appropriate authorities in the investigation and prosecution of individuals engaged in the forgery and fraudulent use of medical certificates. We encourage our members to report any suspected instances of forgery without delay.
4. Security Enhancement: We will reinforce awareness among our members regarding security measures to safeguard our professional identities, signatures, and credentials and medical licenses from unauthorized use. The following control measures will be laid down to ensure the authenticity of the medical certificates:
a. use of dry seal with PRC
b. handwritten medical certificate forms with header content that includes the doctor’s name credentials, clinic and contact details
c. the use of control number
d. for printed medical certificates, we will include the header content that includes the doctor’s name credentials, clinic and contact details.
5. Public Awareness: We are committed to enhance awareness of the consequences of forging medical documents and uphold ethical standards in all interactions with the healthcare system.
Together, we are steadfast in our commitment to uphold the highest ethical and professional standards. We will actively collaborate with the stakeholders to include local government units (LGU) to combat fraud, protect the integrity of medical practice. By this we can appropriate healthcare resources to those that truly deserve.
