THE GOVERNMENT must seek the right directions for public healthcare. Perhaps it has to start with a no-nonsense program to make our health workers stay.
The COVID-19 pandemic has put the spotlight on the country’s public health system, specifically its shortcomings – its lackluster governance, its regulations, human resources, informatics, even its decision-making.
But the problem on healthcare human resources sticks out like a sore thumb – our health professionals which include doctors, nurses, medical technologists, physical therapists, and medical secretaries, etc. Hundreds, maybe thousands, of them work abroad because our public health system cannot pay them well. They spend years and years at nursing and medical schools and if ever they find employment, they get measly sums and with a working environment not so ideal.
Thus the trajectory of our health services students while still in school is to work abroad. There’s is the glaring offer of rich countries. The pay, compared to what one is getting here, is staggering. This is a tragedy. Instead of our people enjoying the benefits of a humane health program, we are left with an anemic system that deprives us of our health workers who must leave for work abroad.
Developed countries, especially in the Middle East, need so many health workers because they have so many hospitals, they have upgraded their health programs, they pour in money for health, and health is the primary focus of their governments. And as an enticement, they pay much that no one can resist. These governments have their feet in the right places and we, in turn, churn out nurses from our schools only to find their way to Europe, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and anywhere else where the pay is good.
Private hospitals in the country do not pay well. But it is the government that must change the direction of our health program. With corruption and a lack of imagination in planning for our health programs, we can never hold our health workers to stay put. And poor Juan de la Cruz in the barrio will just die without even seeing a doctor or nurse!
