Jammed: Full into Capacity

It seems that the health care crisis continues to be a problem in the Philippines. We have been running out of health manpower as nurses, midwives and doctors go abroad. It seems that we have another thing to be afraid of - the Philippines is also running out of hospitals!.

The Philippine Medical Association (PMA), based on a survey, reported that the number of hospitals, both private and public, in the country has dropped by 55 percent in the last 20 years - from a total of 2,000 in 1987 to only 890 at present.

Further, the new government policy that prevents private hospitals from “detaining” patients until they settle their hospitalization bills will worsen the situation. It may lead to bankruptcy of more hospitals which may lead to a more deteriorating health care system.

To probably mask this worsening situation, the Department of Health denies the claim that this problem exist.

What do we really need to solve the health care problem? Simple, we need a sustainable solution. As I have observed, the government is always acting on impulse. The worsening education status of the Filipinos, for example, was thought can be solved by offering student loans. Although, this seems a promising solution, it will not really address the root of the problem - which is poverty. I think it will work, but only as supplementary aid for the purpose of defeating lack of education.

Then, the government came up with a desperate solution of banning health workers from going abroad, in response to the deteriorating health care system in the country.

In a case study (a PDF article) done by Institute of Health Policy and Development Studies of UP Manila (published on 2006 by the International Labour Organization) about migration of health workers, among the reasons include colonial mentality, economic need; professional and career development; and the attraction of higher living standards. But the common reason given was that the low and variable wage rates do not allow them to earn “decent living wages”.

Factors were categorized into “push” and “pull” factors. The former were related to economics, working conditions and socio-political factors. Aside from the financial reasons given, emphasis was placed on the country’s deteriorating condition. Pull factors included the respondents’ concern for the financial and physical security of their children.

Solving a country’s issue is like solving a math problem - you need to analyze the givens and factors, look for the operation needed, to come up with the accurate solution. The government needs to assess these reasons, then come up with a solution for them.

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