mongster's nest

- disturbing fantasies, traumatic verses, definitely mongrel thoughts

Ang bagong doktor: Mga manghihilot at albularyo

Boxing champ captivates a nation, my blog entry for Global Voices.

More than 40,000 individuals will take the nursing licensure examinations this weekend, including most of the 1,687 passers of the controversial June examinations who were ordered by the Court of Appeals to retake Tests 3 and 5.

To prevent another leakage of test questions and answers, the five members of the Board of Nursing were 'quarantined' in a private printing press. Test booklet custodians will be allowed to leave only on November 30 or December 1.

Cheating may be discouraged since the Professional Regulation Commission cannot afford another humiliating scandal. But the December nursing examination is bound to be controversial as well.

Those who have registered to take the tests included professionals, even doctors, who saw the bright prospects of becoming a nurse in a distant developed country. This may not be surprising news anymore but it still underscores the alarming trend of migrating health workers which seriously undermines the country's health care system.

Most of the nursing schools which have proliferated since 1999 are geared towards the training of 'second-coursers' or professionals who go back to schools to study nursing. Then we have the 'nursing medics' or doctors who become nurses. There are schools which offer abbreviated courses for physicians who wanted to work as nurses in other countries.

During the 1970s, thousands of doctors left the country as doctors. Now, doctors are leaving as nurses. This highlights not only the inevitable high demand for nurses, but also the precarious situation of the country's health human resources.

The exodus of doctors and nurses is blamed for the deteriorating delivery of health services in many parts of the country. Thousands of hospitals are understaffed or forced to hire unqualified nurses. Senior and skilled nurses are replaced by inexperienced and less idealistic young nurses who stay for three to six months in local hospitals before deciding to leave the country.

The depletion of health workforce has worsened the problems besetting the heath sector. Rural areas now have less access to doctors, nurses and medical attention.

Meanwhile, the government has recently endorsed the medical tourism program to entice health professionals to stay in the country. This means wealthy foreigners will have the chance to avail of local health services while the health needs of the poor and rural Filipinos will be less priority of private and even public health facilities.

There are various proposals to address the migration of health workers. One of which is to increase the salaries and benefits of government doctors and nurses. The Magna Carta of Public Health Workers should be reviewed since local government units, and even national government agencies, have failed to implement all provisions of the law.

Reforms are also needed in the nursing and medical education. Should we allow the establishment of more nursing schools? Should we discourage 'second-coursing'? Perhaps we should we teach nursing students about the ethics of migration or the impact of migration on the country's health system.

Can we make medical education more affordable and more responsive to the needs of rural and urban poor communities? Can we hire midwives and community health workers as nurses and train them as physicians?

Everyone is free to pursue their dreams. Everyone is free to travel. But we should be allowed to appeal to every individual's sense of patriotism and encourage them to delay their departure or work in the country for a certain period before leaving.

Scholars and leaders have already sounded the alarm on the rising number of migrating health workers. Now is the time for political will and decisive action. Otherwise, we will lose all our doctors and nurses and we will be forced to recognize the 'albularyo' and 'manghihilot' as the new medical professionals.

Related entries:

Indian doctors in RP hospitals. importer na tayo.
Beyond the nursing brouhaha. commercialization of nursing.
Labor as export. lahat na lang.

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The gods must be crazy: I saw Tito Sotto interviewing tricycle drivers on Panay Avenue for Eat Bulaga. The following day I heard the comedian on DZRH talking about the arrest of Gringo Honasan...I was able to read the statements of Kiko Pangilinan about his views on the economy, charter change and the many problems of the country in the Senate website. The following day I saw him on TV endorsing Lucky Me instant noodles together with her famous wife....In Congress, visitors of lawmakers are recognized in the gallery. In Eat Bulaga, constituents of Vice Mayor Anjo Villana are recognized in the audience. In the Philippines, politics is not a serious matter.

posted by: mongpalatino at November 28, 2006 11:46 | link | comments (4) |
health

Comments:

#1  28 November 2006 - 18:45

 

I wonder when would higher education system cease to be puppets of the international capitalist system, changing as fast as the worldwide market does. Completely ignoring our domestic needs.

Shame really...

Anonymous

#2  29 November 2006 - 06:07

 

I don't think gods are crazy, it is the Filipinos who are crazy treating actors/actresses like gods. Imitating them in their whims and fancies, not thinking that what they are doing and acting is their bread and basket, not like average persons who toils and sweats for their food.
Napakasakit isipin na ang mga taong dapat sanang pinili natin para mamuno at maging halimbawa ng mamayang pilipino at syang dapat na manguna para mapaunlad ang ating bansa ay di maluklok sa dapat kalagyan bagkus ay ang mga taong wala namang ginagawang mabuti kungdi ang magpalitrato lang ang syang naluklok. Hanggang saan pa ba tayong pilipino ay magiging ganito katanga at hanggang kailan tayo gagawing tanga ng mga politikong alam naman nating hindi kapakanan ng bayan ang hangad. Bagkus ay ang pansariling kapakanan lamang at pagnanakaw ng kaban ng bayan ang gagawin. Isipin nating mabuti mga kapwa ko pilipino, tayo ba ay nilalang para maging alipin na lang at sunod sunuran lang sa mga taong mapagsamantala.

I am reading your blogs and I envy your thorough and broad vision of what is happening around us. I am an OFW for the last 13 years and I cannot see any improvement in our political state bagkus lalo tayong nagiging aba sa paningin ng ibang mga bansa dahilan sa mga taong namumuno sa ating bansa.

Anonymous

#3  04 December 2006 - 22:49

 

All Iskolars-ng-bayan should be required to work in the Philippines two years for every year that they are enrolled in UP (and the other state-universities/colleges).

Anonymous

#4  04 December 2006 - 22:50

 

...five years for every year they are enrolled in UP/others

Anonymous

Comments: