Danny Chan

The exodus of doctors from the Philippines is creating a “threatening situation for our health care system,” according to the country’s health secretary. Francisco Duque said approximately 6,000 doctors in the Philippines are studying nursing to work in higher-paying positions overseas. The secretary added this was a marked increase from the 2,000-odd physicians in the country who studied to become nurses last year.

“I think the problem really is the migration of doctors. We have so many nurses now, more than enough to fill up (vacancies). But our doctors are leaving,” Mr Duque said on Aug. 4, adding a task force was assigned to study any potential impact from the mass emigration. Health officials have moreover stated the Philippines could face a “medical apocalypse” due to the shortage of health care workers.

A Philippine doctor employed in a government hospital earns about P25,000 ($446) a month, while a doctor employed as a nurse overseas could expect to make $8,000 a month. Lawyers, accountants and engineers have also enrolled to train as nurses, according to Mr Duque.

A study conducted by the University of the Philippines also found that over 50,000 nurses left the country to find work abroad between 2000 and 2003. Filipino nurses are in demand in such places as Europe, the United States, the Middle East, Singapore and Japan.


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