Salaries of doctors and nurses in the country must be increased by the incoming administration for them not to leave the country and work abroad, the former president of the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) said.
In a “Laging Handa” briefing on Thursday, June 23, former PMA president, Dr. Benito Atienza, said healthcare workers, especially nurses, have been working very hard since the Covid-19 pandemic hit the country.
“Sana taasan ‘yung mga sweldo ng ating doctors, lalo na ang ating nurses, para hindi sila pumunta sa abroad at doon na humanap ng greener pastures (We are hoping that the salaries of doctor, especially of nurses, will be raised by the incoming administration for them not to go abroad in search of greener pastures),” he said.
Atienza said they are also hoping that the coordination of the DOH, PMA, and other medical groups will continue under the new administration.
He stressed the potent role of healthcare workers in keeping the public healthy.
In February, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) set the deployment cap of healthcare workers at 7,500 per year.
Recently, Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines, Inc. (PHAPi) president, Dr. Jose Rene de Grano, said the cap should be set at 5,000.
Healthcare workers have been very in demand worldwide due to the Covid-19 pandemic.