MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Medical Association (PMA) has urged the Department of Health (DOH) to study the possibility that some abortion-causing drugs are present in inventories of the department's family planning program. 

The PMA, the umbrella organization of medical doctors in the country, made the call in a letter to Health Secretary Dr. Enrique Ona.

"Life begins at fertilization, anything that prevents the fertilized ovum to be implanted in the uterus may be considered as abortive and therefore, if prescribed, may violate our solemn oath as physicians to save and protect human life particularly the unborn,"  said PMA president Dr. Oscar Tinio.

The group said in a press statement that it recently held a meeting with the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).

Officials from the 2 organizations agreed on the premise that "life begins at fertilization." 

Abortifacients include any device, medicine, substance, or practice that may either damage, injure, interfere, recklessly endanger or cause the expulsion or death of the unborn child, according to the PMA.

 "If life begins at fertilization, therefore anything that prevents the implantation of the living fertilized ovum in the uterus of the mother is abortive" Tinio said.

Contraceptives like intrauterine devices (IUDs) and certain hormones affect the environment of the uterus which ultimately will result in the failure of the living fertilized ovum to be implanted and survive, he added.

 "The PMA is against abortion and so is the CBCP. We doctors took an oath to save and protect human life and that definitely includes the unborn child. The PMA and the CBCP stands united on this," Tinio said.

"The Philippine Medical Association is volunteering to share our scientific and medical expertise to the Department of Health to shed more light on this issue in order for us to champion even more the sanctity of human life," he said.

CBCP and PMA officials are set to meet again in early January.