V.A.S MEDICAL CLINIC – LTO Accredited Medical Clinic

**Update Regarding Parking: VA guard lets non-veterans park where it says "VA Patients Only". I saw random people taking veteran parking spots and wandering off. It took years for us to get a place to park. Ask the guard to do his job.** Kudos to the new VA Director for squaring away the parking situation! Veterans have been waiting a very long time for this. There are now a few spots directly in front of VA Manila for veterans to park. Print your parking card and bring it with you. If you forget, just ask the guard for a parking card. Finally, parking is back 🅿️! Make sure not to bring laptops 💻 or iPads. Cellphones are okay 📱 🆗. VA Manila provides medication for service-connected disabilities only. This is different from a standard VAMC in the USA. Meds can be mailed directly to your address in the Philippines. At the VA Manila clinic, they do labs first: urine and blood draw. Afterwards, a nurse will take your blood pressure and weight and go over information with you. Next, your doctor will see you. The doctor will go over your lab results, as well as your medications. She'll ask some questions, and then possibly do a diabetic foot exam and check your breathing. The exam is a fairly basic, but important check-up. For your service-connected disabilities, you need to enroll in the Foreign Medical Program (FMP). This is managed through Denver Colorado. All claims must be submitted to FMP Denver for reimbursement. This also applies to ChampVa, which is for spouses and children. For treatment of your non-service connected disabilities in the Philippines, it will be out-of-pocket. If you're able to travel, it would be best to return Stateside and visit a VAMC for expensive procedures. Here in the Philippines, even for service-connected disabilities, you will need the money to pay upfront, and then wait for reimbursement from FMP Denver. This is only for those who have just VA healthcare. For those with Tricare, I believe there are select hospitals where Tricare pays the hospital directly. Medical City Clark is one of those hospitals. If i had a chronic illness, I'd return to the United States for treatment. Veterans in the USA can get care via VAMC or through VA Choice. VA Choice is only available if VA can't provide the service. Either way, your odds are much better in the USA, and cheaper. VA Manila only provides basic services. You'll need to supplement your healthcare in the Philippines with local private doctors, hospitals, and clinics. Luckily, healthcare is cheaper in the Philippines, and it's improving. A good hospital for high quality care in the Philippines is St. Luke's Manila or Makati Medical Center. To sum up, VA Manila staff are very polite and welcoming. I like the way they've streamlined processes there. Be thankful that we have them so far away from the mainland.

Excellent and professional Physicians and Nurses. Other VA employees were very helpful. I believe we veterans should be glad that we have a VA clinic in the Philippines.

Same ole VA. Different culture. People only half listening to your issue before loudly and in-discreetly going off on a scripted explanation about something you don't need. Whole day wasted trying to get services that aren't available after being told first-thing that they were available. Love giving you the wrong information and then talking to you like your def and stupid for taking them at their word. No one's responsible. No one will compensate me. Who cares. Thankfully I don't need any sort of consoling 'cause I'd be easier to just ...

Can't really complain. It's a small clinic. The staff is extremely courteous and do their best to assist the veteran community. It's the only VA Clinic located in a foreign country, so we are lucky to have them here.

Had my first visit in March. Dr. Mendoza was great. She gave me thorough tests and got all my meds. Today 5/26 I receive my first refill living here on Mindanao. Took only ONE WEEK. Very grateful for the great service to all at the VA Manila