Press Release
March 14, 2020

Gatchalian alarmed over health workers' shortage in PH; cites need for more medical scholarships

The shortage of health workers nationwide will have serious implications on the health of Filipinos especially at this critical stage of public health emergency brought about by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). This is a concern that Senator Win Gatchalian raised following infections of 132,000 worldwide, including 64 cases from the Philippines.

To emphasize this alarming shortage, Gatchalian cited figures that the Department of Health (DOH) shared in a Senate public hearing on medical scholarships. According to Dr. Pretchell Tolentino, Chief of the DOH Learning and Development Division, the country has a shortage of 8,840 doctors nationwide specifically in far-flung rural areas.

In the same hearing, Philippine General Hospital (PGH) Director Dr. Gerardo Legaspi explained that in rolling out the Universal Health Care Law, 44 doctors, nurses, midwives, and medical technologists combined (private and public) should be catering to a population of 10,000. The ratio is currently at 19 per 10,000 population.

"Nakakabahalang malaman na hindi lamang testing facilities at testing kits ang kulang sa atin ngayong nasa ilalim tayo ng isang public health emergency. Dahil sa kakulangan ng mga doktor, naaapektuhan ang ating kakayahang magbigay ng agarang tulong medikal sa mga kababayan nating nasa panganib tulad na lang ng COVID-19," said Gatchalian.

To address the shortage of doctors and other medical professionals in the country, Gatchalian is eyeing more scholarships that would send underprivileged yet deserving students to private institutions.

In the absence of medical schools in state universities and colleges (SUCs), Gatchalian instead urged the Department of Health (DOH) to leverage and increase partnerships with private medical schools so these institutions can absorb poor students who are academically deserving.

Since these institutions already made investments in sophisticated technology and facilities, Gatchalian said sending scholars to these schools would be more efficient compared to putting up medical schools. Out of the country's 111 State Colleges and Universities (SCUs) in the country, only eight are operating medical schools.

Since 2017, DOH has been offering a medical scholarship program which covers tuition costs and allowances for books, uniform, lodging, transportation, annual medical insurance, and living subsidy, among others. The DOH currently has 1,141 scholars in both SUCs and private schools.

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Gatchalian: medical scholarships sagot sa kakulangan ng health workers sa bansa

Ngayong nasa ilalim ng isang public health emergency ang bansa dahil sa novel coronavirus o COVID-19, nahaharap sa malaking panganib ang kalusugan ng mga Pinoy lalo na't may kakulangan ng health workers ang bansa. Ito ang ikinababahala ni Senador Win Gatchalian ngayong pumalo na sa mahigit isang daan at tatlumpung libo (132,000) na ang mga positibong kaso ng coronavirus sa buong mundo, kabilang ang higit anim na pung (64) kaso sa Pilipinas.

Upang bigyang-diin ang kakulangang nito, tinukoy ni Gatchalian ang bilang ng mga health workers na ibinahagi ng Department of Health o DOH sa isang public hearing tungkol sa mga medical scholarships. Ayon kay Dr. Pretchell Tolentino, Chief ng DOH Learning and Development Division, may kakulangan ang bansa ng halos siyam na libong (8,840) doktor sa mga kanayunan pa lamang.

Sa parehong hearing, binahagi rin ni Philippine General Hospital (PGH) Director Dr. Gerardo Legaspi na sa pagpapatupad ng Universal Health Care Law, apatnapu't apat (44) na pinagsama-samang mga doktor, nurse, mga komadrona o midwives, at mga medical technologists ang dapat tumutugon sa pangangailangan ng bawat sampung libong (10,000) katao. Sa kasalukuyang lagay ng bansa, halos dalawampung (19) medical workers lamang mula sa parehong pribado at pampublikong sektor ang nakalaan para sa bawat sampung libong katao.

"Nakakabahalang malaman na hindi lamang testing facilities at testing kits ang kulang sa atin ngayong nasa ilalim tayo ng isang public health emergency. Dahil sa kakulangan ng mga doktor, naaapektuhan ang ating kakayahang magbigay ng agarang tulong medikal sa mga kababayan nating nasa panganib tulad na lang ng COVID-19," ani Gatchalian."

Upang mapunan ang kakulangang nito, iminungkahi ni Gatchalian ang pagkakaroon ng mas maraming scholarships para sa maraming mahusay ngunit nangangailangang mga mag-aaral upang makatanggap sila ng edukasyon mula sa mga pribadong institusyon.

Dahil walo lamang sa mahigit isang daang state universities and colleges (SUCs) ang may medical school, hinimok ni Gatchalian ang DOH na magkaroon ng mas maraming partnership sa mga private medical schools, kung saan pwedeng pumasok ang mga mag-aaral na ito.

Simula 2017, meron nang medical scholarship program ang DOH na saklaw ang tuition, allowances para sa mga libro, uniporme, tirahan, transportation, annual medical insurance, at iba pang mga gastusin. Sa kasulukuyan, may mahigit isang libong (1,141) scholars ang DOH na nag-aaral sa parehong SUCs at mga pribadong paaralan.

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