PGI David Joseph P.

Santos
July-August 2017

Community Narrative Report

“Great power comes with great responsibility.” Not everyone has this opportunity of
having this so called “power”, the power of treating. Community was our first rotation for our
internship at Jose Reyes. It is said that community rotation is the most benign rotation during
internship. I was assigned with a co-intern to Brgy. 310 Health Center, a small clinic along Sta.
Cruz, near the Manila City Jail. Going there without knowing the exact location was a bit difficult
since the place was narrow and crowded, but we managed. The staff were all very nice and
welcoming from the physician-in-charge, Dr. Bonalos down to the barangay health workers.
They were not only kind and welcoming, but also fun to be with.
There were a lot of patients in the health center, with plenty of medical cases, ranging
from a child with simple cough and colds to an adult with uncontrolled hypertension. For me, I
had difficulty at first in dealing with patients because this was our first rotation and we get to do
things our own way from history and physical exam to diagnosis and management since as
doctors that is our task, to diagnose the disease and prescribe the right and proper medications.
But everytime my patients return for follow up and told me that their patients get well, a sense of
fulfilment and a big smile is always pictured in my face. But there are also times when patients
return to me and said that they did not improve and recover from their disease which breaks my
heart. But I take it as a challenge to study more and improve and be aware of most medical
conditions so that it can help me in my management of my patients. One good thing among
health centers is that some medicines were provided by the government, and could be given to
the patients free of charge. Nevertheless, there are still some diseases which cannot be
covered by the government-provided medicine. It would always break my heart when I had to
tell a patient that the medicine they need is not available, and they had to buy it at a drug store.
The reason I chose to have my internship at a public hospital in the first place was to serve
patients and provide them with medications and ancillaries free of charge. It was saddening that
they were not always free, and patients would still end up paying a lot.
Rotating at Brgy. 310 Health Center made me further realize that even though efforts
are made to ensure quality healthcare to everyone, there are still some people who need help.
The government is doing its best, but we have our duties as doctors too. We should always
remember that we treat people, not only treating diseases. Showing compassion and heart
could go a long way, and even if some medications are not available, giving kindness is already
enough for the next patient that we meet in the clinic or in the ward.