April 4 to 7, 2018 – Rural Health Physician, Dra. Ma. Rosario “Charrie” H. Esguerra and Municipal Health Officer, Dra. Mary Joan Dinlasan, had a privilege to attend the four day seminar entitled: 65^th AMHOP National Convention and Scientific Meeting held at Quest Hotel and Convention Center, Angeles City, Pampanga.

One of the topics discussed during the AHMOP Convention is about the Proposed Rule in Medical Certificate, Cause of Death (MCCOD) lectured by Enrique A. Tagle, MD, PHSAE, FPSMID, CESO III, Director IV, Knowledge Management and Information Technology Service, of Department of Health.

The Institutional role of the Local Health Office is to:

• Ensure strict implementation of standards, guidelines, and procedures of MCCOD
• Coordinate with DOH in the capacity building of Local Health Office personnel
• Facilitate direct and timely transmission of all death certificates to the LCR
• Oversee the proper use and implementation of verbal autopsy in certifying the cause of death; and
• Ensure employment of sufficient manpower to facilitate the timely certification, review and transmission of death certificates to LCR

*Verbal Autopsy shall be employed in the following cases:

• Medically unattended deaths
• DOA cases
• Delayed registration of death
• Deaths where immediate burial prior to registration is permitted
• Deaths requiring medico-legal investigation, but where a medico-legal officer is unavailable.

*Verbal Autopsy procedures and tools shall follow the standards and guidelines issued by the DOH, aligned with international standards.

(Article by:  Jeric Mallari of RHU 2)