Filipino health workers encouraged to stay in PH to help in COVID fight

Filipino health workers who have plans to work overseas were encouraged to stay in the country to help in the fight against the coronavirus disease (COVID-10) pandemic.

“Nananawagan kami dahil pandemya ngayon na sana medyo manaig sa kanila ang nasyonalismo dahil sa ngayon lumalaban tayo sa giyera (We are appealing to

them because we are in a midst of a pandemic, we are hoping that their sense of nationalism prevails as we are currently in a war),” said Philippine General Hospital spokesman Dr. Jonas del Rosario in an interview over Teleradyo.

“Kailangang-kailangan po natin ng mga doktor sana po ay mag-stay muna kayo kahit na at least for the next one or two years or kahit isang taon lang. We're hoping na matapos na ito, pero sa ngayon po ay tingin ko ay huwag muna po kayong umalis, kailangan po kayo (We really need doctors, I hope you stay first at least for the next one or two years. We're hoping that this will be over soon, but for now, I think you should not leave, we need you),” he added.

Del Rosario also expressed hope that the government will provide additional salary for healthcare workers.

“Malayo po ang difference ng sweldo sa ibang bansa kumpara sa atin dito. Sabi nga nila, kapag ikaw ay nag-uumpisa pa lamang napakahirap bumuhay ng pamilya kaya marami po talaga nagbabalak makaalis (The salary difference in other countries is far compared to ours here. They say, when you are just starting out it is very difficult to raise a family so many are really planning to leave),” he said.

“I think malaking bagay po ang sweldo. Sabi nga nung iba para daw insulto ‘yung ibang inoofer ng government sa kanila kasi mababa po... iguro dapat itaas-taas pa nila (I think salary plays a big factor. Others have said that what the government is offering to them is an insult because it is low... Maybe they should increase it),” he added.

The Department of Health had previously urged healthcare professionals to consider applying in their emergency hiring program.

In its latest update, there are 9,692 human resources for health hired out of the 11,934 approved slots for emergency hiring in 345 health facilities nationwide.

Of these, 38.7 percent were hired in DoH hospitals, 16.1 percent in COVID-19 diagnostic facilities, 15.5 percent in Temporary Treatment and Monitoring Facilities, 12.7 percent in local government and other hospitals, 6.7 percent in COVID-19 referral facilities, 3.7 percent in Epidemiology and Surveillance Units, three percent in private health facilities, 2.1 percent in Mega LIGTAS COVID-19 Centers, and 1.4 percent for other healthcare facilities.