MANILA (UCAN): The Nagkaisa [united] labour coalition, an umbrella organisation representing many trade unions in the Philippines, accused EU nations like Germany, as well as other countries like the United Kingdom are of too many Filipino nurses and paramedical staff, by offering them fat salary packages. This has resulted in fewer hands in local hospitals and left the country struggling to cope with a shortage of medical professionals.
“These countries have the means to pay a higher salary package which has caused fewer nurses and caregivers with local hospitals,” Sonny Matula, president of the Nagkaisa, said on January 16.
He said that the group had received reports which say visa fees are covered for health workers and other benefits offered to entice medical professionals to work in EU nations.
The Philippine Health Department recently released a report which said the country was facing a shortage of nurses and medical professionals. It urged them to resist the temptation to go abroad.
“I appeal to our nurses and medical workers to consider working in the Philippines first before getting a job in other countries. We need you here. We appeal to your patriotism,” secretary for Health, Rosario Vergeire, said on January 15.
Medical and public health schools in the country admitted that they were cooperating with foreign medical firms, adding it was not against the law.
It’s not easy to leave a child or an ailing mother. But many of our overseas Filipino workers are doing exactly that. Because they want to save their families from poverty,
Monsignor Manalo
There is nothing wrong with foreign medical companies promoting themselves in the Philippines. Many of them do it online, Vilma Garcia, president of the De La Salle Medical Centre, observed.
“Some are also providing free tuition and taking care of food and lodgings. Of course, this is a generous offer,” Garcia added.
Nurses, who have already gone abroad, however, justified their decision.
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“We go abroad to provide a decent living for our children. Are we not patriotic then?” asked Crystal Cusi, who works in Germany, the EU’s largest economy.
“Why would you stay in this country if you have an opportunity to earn more in a foreign nation? We are also patriotic as we send remittances,” Cusi pointed out.
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines expressed sympathy for the migrants.
“It’s not easy to leave a child or an ailing mother. But many of our overseas Filipino workers are doing exactly that. Because they want to save their families from poverty,” Monsignor Roger Manalo, executive secretary of the conference’s Commission for Migrants and Itinerant People, said.
According to the Health Department, a typical 250-bed hospital in the Philippines needs at least 340 nurses to operate. But current strength is between 100 to 120 nurses.
“We only have half the number of nurses needed,” Vergeire said.
Private hospitals in the Philippines provide a monthly salary of 12,000 pesos to 15,000 pesos [$1,650-$2,060] while a hospital in the EU pays at least 80,000 pesos [$11,020] per month, according to a Health Department report.
