The Philippines has a provide of medical doctors, nurses, and different well being staff however solely a fraction of them are training their professions, Commissioner Erwin Enad of the Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC) informed a Senate committee on Monday.
Enad thus remarked on the listening to of a Senate Committee on Sustainable Development Goals on the standing of human assets for well being (HRH) within the Philippines.
In his presentation, Enad confirmed that as of March 24, 2023, there are 951,105 registered nurses however solely 53.55 p.c or 509,297 are energetic.
There are additionally 182,300 registered midwives within the nation however solely 38.1 p.c or 64,475 are training. For physicians, Enad mentioned there are 159,283 registered people however 59.70% or 95,039 are energetic.
“Supply-wise, we have these health professionals. Records would show that not all of them are practicing their profession,” Enad mentioned. “Our presentation reinforced the earlier observation of the CHED that we have the supply but the practicing professionals in that field kulang tayo [are lacking] because kaunti lang ang nag-active [only a few went active],” he added.
The Department of Health during the hearing showed that the number of practicing health professionals did not meet the ratio the World Health Organization set.
The standard is 44.5 HRHs (14.3 for physicians; 27.4 for nurses; and 2.8 for midwives) for every 10,000 population.
With the 111,572,254 population in the Philippines, the DOH said there was a need for 116,032 physicians and 125,890 nurses to meet the ratio. Meanwhile, there is a 28,580 surplus in midwives.
Senator Pia Cayetano, who presided over the hearing, pointed out in her opening statement that the government must ensure that healthcare workers must be given reasons to stay in the Philippines by providing them with competitive salaries.
“ It is a reality that our human health resources, from our doctors, nurses, physical therapists, pharmacists, and many others, our scientists, are pretty much in demand all over the world. They are amazing at their jobs. They are well-trained. And they have very bright futures in other countries. And, what we want to ensure here in the discussion is that we are mindful of their right to explore greener pastures, but we would like the Philippines to be a pasture that they are also content and happy with. I think that is what our goal should be,” she mentioned.
She identified that the Universal Health Care Act mandates the DOH and different stakeholders to make sure the formulation and implementation of a nationwide well being human useful resource grasp plan that can present coverage and methods for the suitable technology, recruitment, retraining, regulation, retention, and reassessment of well being workforce primarily based on inhabitants well being wants, and to make sure continuity within the provision of well being applications and companies.
Apart from aggressive salaries, Cayetano mentioned UHC Act additionally seeks to make sure that all well being professionals will probably be assured everlasting employment. —NB, GMA Integrated News
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
