11 October 2005
Feature: Brain drain hurting Pangasinan’s biggest government hospital
THE biggest government hospital in Pangasinan is badly affected by brain drain as at least four of its nurses are resigning and leaving for greener pastures abroad monthly.
This was learned from Dr. Jesus Canto, chief of the Region 1 Medical Center, who said had he not adopted a continuing recruiting program for new nurses, the hospital would not have enough medical personnel to attend to a growing number of patients now.
The new nurses are coming by different universities and colleges in Pangasinan, namely the University of Pangasinan, Lyceum-Northwestern University, University of Luzon, Colegio de Dagupan, Virgen Milagrosa University Foundation and other nursing schools.
Canto said the brain drain hurts the hospital a lot but said he can not do anything as the nurses are leaving for career advancement and for bigger pay.
Canto cited one doctor and his dentist wife, both of R1MC, who took up nursing. When they passed the board, they both applied and were admitted as nurses in the United States where they are now earning at least 40 U.S. dollars per hour.
Admitting that the nurses they are recruiting to fill the vacant positions created by brain drain will only stay for a while, just enough time for them to gain some experience, Canto sought a bigger take-home pay for the country’s medical workers, to slow down brain drain.
“We can not put a stop to brain drain if medical workers are only earning little sustenance pay from our hospitals to keep their body and soul together,” said Canto who sought better wages for doctors, nurses, midwives and dentists.
He admitted that he adopted a lenient attitude toward fellow doctors who may want to practice their profession “after office hours” because he understands their economic plight.
This situation is also true in various other hospitals, public and private, throughout the country, which are now badly suffering because of the continuing migration of nurses to the United States, United Kingdom and even in the Middle East.
There is a fear that health care in the Philippines will deteriorate badly in a few years because of the departure of the country’s medical professionals for higher paying jobs abroad.
This was learned from Dr. Jesus Canto, chief of the Region 1 Medical Center, who said had he not adopted a continuing recruiting program for new nurses, the hospital would not have enough medical personnel to attend to a growing number of patients now.
The new nurses are coming by different universities and colleges in Pangasinan, namely the University of Pangasinan, Lyceum-Northwestern University, University of Luzon, Colegio de Dagupan, Virgen Milagrosa University Foundation and other nursing schools.
Canto said the brain drain hurts the hospital a lot but said he can not do anything as the nurses are leaving for career advancement and for bigger pay.
Canto cited one doctor and his dentist wife, both of R1MC, who took up nursing. When they passed the board, they both applied and were admitted as nurses in the United States where they are now earning at least 40 U.S. dollars per hour.
Admitting that the nurses they are recruiting to fill the vacant positions created by brain drain will only stay for a while, just enough time for them to gain some experience, Canto sought a bigger take-home pay for the country’s medical workers, to slow down brain drain.
“We can not put a stop to brain drain if medical workers are only earning little sustenance pay from our hospitals to keep their body and soul together,” said Canto who sought better wages for doctors, nurses, midwives and dentists.
He admitted that he adopted a lenient attitude toward fellow doctors who may want to practice their profession “after office hours” because he understands their economic plight.
This situation is also true in various other hospitals, public and private, throughout the country, which are now badly suffering because of the continuing migration of nurses to the United States, United Kingdom and even in the Middle East.
There is a fear that health care in the Philippines will deteriorate badly in a few years because of the departure of the country’s medical professionals for higher paying jobs abroad.
