Uplifting healthcare's vital professionals

BEHIND EVERY doctor and physician is a compassionate heart and years of hard work.

- Bjorn Biel M. Beltran

The medical profession is one that requires not only a deep technical knowledge of human biology, but a commitment to the arduous - often heartbreaking-work of preserving human life.

Unfortunately, the reality is that such dedication often goes unrewarded in the Philippines. It is a long-understood fact that Filipino doctors would rather become nurses abroad than practice their profession in the country.

Last year, Health Secretary Teodoro J. Herbosa said the Philippines has a shortage of 190,000 healthcare workers. This includes not only nurses and midwives, but also physicians the backbone of diagnosis, treatment, and medical leadership in every community.

In 2023, Senator Francis N. Tolentino called for a stronger emphasis for a more accessible health program, calling the doctor shortage one of the top priorities in the Philippines.

In his speech during the 93rd National Assembly of the League of Vice Governors of the Philippines, Mr. Tolentino stressed that the longer the country delays, the more the population of local physicians continues to shrink as many among their ranks seek better fortunes abroad.

"The current medical situation in the Philippines right now is below the threshold... there are more Filipinos being born than there are pediatricians," he had said, adding that of the currently registered doctors, less than half are currently active in the local medical field.

"As of now, there are only four doctors for every 10,000 Filipinos. We barely have any surgeons. Only about 0.2% of the number we need," he stressed.

In the same speech, Mr. Tolentino said the country needs at least "10 doctors for every 10,000 Filipinos" to have accessible medical healthcare in the country.