How can the Philippines improve medical services when all the medical practitioners are leaving the country?

We all know that there are so many medical practitioners especially nurses who are working abroad. The demand for health care providers in other countries became the apple of the eyes of those in the medical field. Even doctors in the country prefer to practice their expertise abroad or take up nursing for them to be able to work in other countries like the US or somewhere in Europe. But with this, is there any hope for the Philippines to improve its health services when it is currently experiencing brain drain?

Dear Tootdee,

Your question speaks of two things; your concern for the country and at the same time saying that the medical healthcare is stagnant to say the least.

While it's true that Filipino doctors are going out of the country to get better pay it does not necessarily follow that medical healthcare is stagnant. As a matter of fact, advanced medical equipments and big hospitals are opening up. Hospitals which have the amenities of the big hotels are the trend nowadays, concrete examples are Asian Medical Center and the new St. Luke's Medical Center which is undergoing construction at the Fort, the newly developed sprawling business area in Greater Manila Area. So, Medical Healthcare is improving!

However, your concern is valid in the countryside. This is where the problem lies. The doctors in the provinces are the most doctors going out, to include the new graduates...even the topnotchers of the Medical Board Exams. You cannot blame them, your concern for family and country is the same main driving force, for them the only way to help their family and ergo the country is to make money and they can only get that from the wealthy countries like the US of A. They sacrifice to be away from their love ones just to earn money and provide a good future to their family. These same people are part of the Filipinos working abroad who are pumping the economy and boosting the economy of the country. The Philippines GNP is growing for the past 3 years by an average of 5%.

The key to manage this Filipino migration is for the government to manage the dollars pouring in the country by curbing corruption and self-interest and start focusing on building the economy and structures such that people would have improved purchasing power and the companies and government ofcourse would have improved paying capacity for the medical and teaching professions....

The problem is in the government system....the values of the people in the government. It's not in the migration of the filipino... it's just a consequence....

Try paying them a fair wage.

give them due incentives to remain in the Philippines.

tight them by at least 10 years contract working at local hospital i guess.

The reason doctors are moving to the phillipines lately is because of the surge of phillipino healing, or faith healing.

Doctors are going to research different methods and practices.

Bottom line - these health care practitioners are migrating to achieve better paying salaries and opportunities for their families. A start can be increasing preparedness and preventative care in the country. Health promotion and education are important areas in heath care many communities disregard. With this includes improvements in the environment, socioeconomic status, sanitation, etc. Targeting underlying causes of disease and illness dramatically improves health and consequently society. I agree improving medical services since medical practitioners are leaving is an important issue - I would just like to input my advocacy towards public health practices...taking care of disease causing factors in order to prevent the need for serious treatment.

Hi,
I'm not really a doctor, but I am in my 2nd year of med school, and something very clear to any doctor or someone who is becomig one, is that where there are few doctors, they get paid more, so in turn, when the wages in that country/area go up, so does the population of doctors. Its kind of complicated and wierd, but that's how it works. Give it some years, doctors will get paid staggering amounts of money, and there will be many health care professionals.

Good Day ; )