DOH, GAB INK FREE MEDICAL & DIAGNOSTIC EXAMS FOR PRO BOXERS

GAB Chairman Baham Mitra (2nd from left) thanking the DOH and Secretary Paulyn Ubial (3rd from left) before the signing of Memorandum of Agreement in Manila.

THE Department of Health and Games and Amusements Board have finally signed their Memorandum of Agreement of providing free medical and diagnostic examinations for professional boxers in the Philippines.
The signing was made by DOH Secretary Paulyn Jean Rosell-Ubial and GAB Chairman Abraham Kahlil “Baham” Mitra in the presence of Health Undersecretary Herminigildo Vale and other GAB officials.
The professional boxers, upon the favorable endorsement of GAB will get free medical and neurological exams, neurophysiological exam (every three years), chest X-ray, electrocardiogram (12 lead with strip tracing), HelpBSAG (quantitative or new licensee and qualitative for renewals), drug testing for THC and Methampetamine (IDTOMIS), CT Scan or MRI with MRA, Complete blood count and urinalysis.
If the boxer is slated to fight for a world championship, the DOH shall further provide additional services such as the eye examination, neurologic clearance, and HIV and Hepatitis C screening.
The free medical exams are available in selected DOH hospitals across the country.
“I assure our dedicated professional boxers that DOH welcomes this ongoing partnership with the GAB which aims to secure their overall well-being in the practice of this profession,” said Sec. Ubial.
DOH and GAB have recognized the financial burden of these required medical examinations posed to the boxers and managers.
“We are elated by this big big development in boxing that will have far reaching effects from the start up boxers up to the senior ones and also more especially on managers as well,” said Mitra.
Considering that the required series of medical examinations proved to be costly for the applicant boxers, GAB and other boxing stakeholders sought the assistance of DOH requesting that such medical examinations be given to professional boxers by the hospitals and medical center for free.
It was during the 3rd GAB Philippine Boxing Convention held last April in Davao City that Sec. Ubial had first announced the good news.
“She understood right away the need for this kind assistance when we initially intimated to her the situation,” said Mitra.
But DOH still had to make some final arrangements before signing the MOA with GAB last Tuesday which aims to ensure the overall health and welfare of professional Filipino boxers.
“Sec. Ubial is God’s gift to boxing and we’re very lucky to have a sports minded Secretary of Health,” said Mitra.