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Health workers export disturbs DOH

BAGUIO CITY (Apr. 17) — The out-migration of medical doctors and nurses is giving the health department some headaches, a top-ranking health official told Baguio-based media today.

Health Undersecretary Ethelyn P. Nieto revealed this during a press conference shortly after Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo inaugurated two of the newest structures of the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC).

Also, one more serious problem is of doctors turning into nurses to work abroad is now the subject of a tele-conference among top officials of the Department of Health (DOH), the World Health Organization (WHO) in Switzerland and host countries in Europe and the United States on April 18, Nieto said.

“There is no shortage of nurses in the country because some 20,000 finish nursing each year,” Nieto quipped. These nursing graduates train in different hospitals nationwide to get a certificate of proficiency in caring for kidney, lung and heart patients.

“The country is a good training ground for nurses (in demand abroad),” Nieto admitted.

Nieto said the problem lies when doctors take up nursing just to earn dollars abroad. She cited that nurses earn $40 to $60 (P2,000-P3,000) per hour in Europe and the US. In the Philippines, a young doctor earns P16,000 to P18,000 monthly compared with a nurse’s P15,000 per month.

To encourage doctors to stay and serve in the rural areas, DOH now gives incentives such as “Doctors to the Barrios”, where they receive higher salaries; “Leaders for Health”, where doctors are trained in leadership and management and get masteral degrees and such scholarship program that encourages two-year servitude per year of scholarship enjoyed by each beneficiary.

Besides, Nieto said, non-monetary incentives are now dangled by the DOH to entice medical professionals to stay in the country.

Nieto offered no data, but said there has been a shortage of doctors felt in the country.

According to BGHMC Director Manny Factora, the hospital has medical personnel of 242, of which 163 are medical doctors. It has a nursing staff of 238, including nursing aides. The patient-nurse ratio can reach 1:40 at peak periods.

However, Factora is optimistic to attain the 1:10 ratio when the government rationalization program kicks off. An additional 120 bed five-storey building will decongest the present 500-bed BGHMC. # Lyn V. Ramo for NORDIS

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