mongster's nest

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Indian doctors in RP hospitals

During a roundtable discussion, Rep. Ferjenel Biron of Iloilo revealed the plan of the Department of Health to hire Indian doctors next year as an emergency measure to the dwindling number of doctors in the country. That the Philippines would already import skilled workers (instead of being the traditional supplier of manpower needs of foreign nations) underscore the precarious situation of our health system today.

Indeed, the ad which warned the public that in these trying times, “bawal ang magkasakit”, is very sensible not only because of the high cost of medicines but also because of the following information:

1. Four thousand doctors have taken the nursing licensure examination and 3,000 are enrolled in 45 nursing schools;
2. Two hundred hospitals have been shut down and 800 are partially closed;
3. 4,000 doctors have fled the country since 2003;
4. 85 percent of our nurses are to be found in other countries;
5. The country does not have an oversupply of nurses. We produce about 15,000 nursing graduates to meet the same number of demand abroad but only 4,000 are able to pass the board exams. Therefore, the country is sending not only its newly licensed nurses but also 11,000 of its experienced nurses;
6. Public health workers are not receiving the benefits, allowances and other incentives provided by law. The Department of Health is moving for the full implementation of the Magna Carta of Public Health Workers.

Rep Biron believes that we cannot (and should not) prevent health workers from leaving the country. He insists that we must not curtail the right of health workers to have a better life. But he suggested that government can institute mechanisms to delay their departure, like increasing their salaries.

Rep. Janette Garin of Iloilo is supportive of the proposals to increase the salaries of health workers. But she noted that even if the government doubles the compensation for health workers, this would still be low compared to what other countries are offering.

She said the migration of Filipino health workers is a long term problem that should be addressed by the global nation and not by Filipinos alone. She mentioned that government must seek diplomatic/bilateral talks with countries which recruit our doctors and nurses and explain the problems generated by the departure of our health workers.

In exchange of supplying their manpower requirements, Rep. Garin wants recipient countries to give aid, grants and other forms of assistance to the Philippines. She said government must warn foreign countries that if they do not participate in strengthening the health and education system in the Philippines, their people will suffer if we export poor quality nurses.

She also noted the unethical practice of some public health workers who migrate to other countries but manage to keep their jobs (if ever they decide to come back) by filing a ‘leave of absence’ instead of filing for resignation. Rep. Garin declared that this is unfair to unemployed licensed nurses who are desperately seeking work.

Ms. Emma Manuel of the Alliance of Health Workers narrated how nurses were overjoyed by the enactment of the Nursing Law in 2002. But for the past two years, the law failed to stem the migration of Filipino nurses since the government has no funds to implement the said law. She said the root of the problem is the low funding for the health sector.

I wonder if Mrs. Gloria Arroyo would agree with the observation that we have a shortage of doctors and nurses. She may probably insist that there is no such thing in this Enchanted Kingdom of ours.

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Labor as export, globally competitive raw tayo eh.
Nannies in Hong Kong, masisipag raw kasi tayo eh.

posted by: mongpalatino at June 03, 2006 21:27 | link | comments |
health

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