DOH: Lack of healthcare workers an obstacle to PH goal of being among Asia’s healthiest by 2040

The lack of healthcare workers in the Philippines is a “major roadblock” in making Filipinos among the healthiest people in Asia by 2040, an official from the Department of Health (DOH) said Thursday.

Dr. Adriel Pizarra, a medical officer from the DOH’s Health Policy Development and Planning Bureau, said the government has a lot of programs it wishes to implement to achieve its long-term goal. However, there are not enough nurses, doctors and other healthcare workers in the country to make them possible. 

“We see this as a major roadblock kaya po siya priority i-address. Kasi we can have all of these plans and even budget, but if you don’t have the people that will be implementing this, mahihirapan po talaga tayo,” he said at a media conference in Olongapo City. 

(We see this as a major roadblock, so this is a priority we are addressing.. We can have all of these plans and budgets, but if you don't have the people that will be implementing this, we will find it difficult.)

The migration of Filipino healthcare workers, particularly nurses, for better paying jobs overseas remains to be a challenge for the government.

In May, Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said a total of 190,000 healthcare workers are needed to fill the gaps in the Philippine healthcare system. 

''We will need the human resources, so we saw the gap. Prinesent ko sa presidente na we (need to) have about 190,000 to actually fill-in the gaps of our health care system – that’s with the net flow ‘no, iyong mga nag-migrate at iyong mga nag-OFW plus iyong naga-graduate from our schools,'' Herbosa said.

(I presented to the President that we need about 190,000 to actually fill-in the gaps of our healthcare system, that's with the net flow --- those who migrated and the OFWs who graduated from our schools.)

DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said last year that under existing polices, it would take 12 to 23 years for the country to address the shortage of nurses and doctors, respectively.

Pizarra said the DOH is looking at studies that would give evidence for them to push for higher wages or benefits among healthcare workers.

“When it comes doon sa benefits, may ongoing na mga studies po kung saan paano natin mae-ensure na ‘yung amount of work na natatanggap or kinukuha ng isang…health worker is sufficient for doon sa kanyang binabayad sa kanya,” he said.

(When it comes to benefits, there are ongoing studies on how we can ensure that the amount of work of a health worker corresponds to how much salary he or she receives.) 

“May mga ganon pong evaluation studies, initiatives of the Department to ensure na ‘yung mga susunod nating policies are evidence-informed,” he added.

(The DOH has these evaluation studies or initiatives to ensure that our next policies are evidence-informed.)

Earlier this month, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. approved the adoption of national objectives to strengthen the country’s health sector for the period 2023 to 2028, anchored on “AmBisyon Natin 2040.”

AmBisyon Natin 2040 reflects the collective long-term vision and aspirations of the Filipino and highlights the promotion of good health as one of the key strategies towards economic and social transformation. —RF, GMA Integrated News