[pickledpepperRN]

The Philippine health care system will collapse within the next two to three years as dismal working conditions continue to drive local doctors and nurses overseas.

http://news.inq7.net/nation/index.ph...story_id=50491

[nursing 101]

I think that the Phillippine gvment should enforce certain laws such as increasing wages (much more than what was cited)... And have nursing and med, any healthcare student sign contracts of 3-5 years before they can exit to other countries. They created the problem by letting people out of the country in the first place by not enough pay, low staffing. They should try to fix it before it gets worse. It won't be a quick fix either.

[fergus51]

I am completely against requiring people to serve for 3-5 years or anything like that. They need to improve wages and conditions so people WANT to stay.

[jenspec]

Most of the nurses do stay for 3 years before they leave the country. These healthcare providers are driven to work abroad because of low wage. The government should make a mandatory increase in their wages especially for the nurses because they are the most underpaid workers in the country. But then again the political situation is the country is a huge problem, so many filipinos starving and the only thing that the government is doing is to tell the people to bear the situation.

[Tweety]

There is no way the Phillipines can offer Western wages. Besides the supply of nurses is actually high, so why offer high wages when so many of them while waiting to get out of the country accept the low wages for the experience, with many even working for free.

Their government helped to create this nurse factory there because many of those nurses abroad send money home to their families which enters their economy.

It does seem the last few years to be getting really out of hand. But as long as the west offers high wages to them, they are going to supply the nurses.

[mahoogie]

I dont think that there will be a total collapse of supply of nurses in the Philippines for years to come..Yes many nurses leave the country, but as many nurses leave,there are many to fill this up...

[mahoogie]

Originally Posted by Tweety

Their government helped to create this nurse factory there because many of those nurses abroad send money home to their families which enters their economy.

Actually, the Philippine government has nothing to do with the building up of Filipino nurses for export.I've heard that China is building up its nurses for export, but in the Philippines, we supply nurses in other countries since the 70's, and its always been a trend, so the government is not that very eager to build up a nursing factory as it is used to the fact that Filipino normally work overseas and been invited by other countries..Actually, due to this, the government advice nurses to stay for long as the quick exodus might affect the health care quality of the country.However, nothing can stop this nurses from leaving and we are a democratic country, no laws were imposed to limit or stop them from leaving..

[turquoiseramen]

Originally Posted by mahoogie

I dont think that there will be a total collapse of supply of nurses in the Philippines for years to come..Yes many nurses leave the country, but as many nurses leave,there are many to fill this up...

I agree... There are so many high school students who choose to get Nursing degrees. In my Nursing school alone, there were 600 freshmen for the BSN program. Of course, not all 600 will be able to get their degree. But still... So many are willing to become nurses just to get out of the dismal financial situation that the country has in store for them.

The only problem is that even doctors, engineers, and other professionals get second degrees (usually BSN) just to get their fast ticket out of the country. It's so disappointing to hear of doctors who earn more as nurses abroad than as doctors in the Philippines. What will happen to Filipinos and their health if all the good doctors go abroad to work as nurses?

[Tweety]

Originally Posted by mahoogie

Actually, the Philippine government has nothing to do with the supply thing or the building up of Filipino nurses for export.The country has gained more than enough billions of dollars from other overseas workers before the west open its door again to Filipino nurses in 2001.Actually, the government advice the nurses to stay for long as they worry that the exodus might affect the health care quality in the country.Its just that the nurses cant stop from leaving, and we are in a democratic country and no law is imposed to limit or stop them from leaving.It is more of the people's willingness to leave and we are suffering from brain drain.

Who builds the nursing schools, provided financial aid? Is it all privately funded?

I can't disagree with you because I'm not there. But you can't argue the financial impact of these workers sending money home, while at that same the government is bemoaning them being gone.

I also know the exporting of Fillipino workers is a long standing tradition.

[mahoogie]

Originally Posted by Tweety

Who builds the nursing schools, provided financial aid? Is it all privately funded?

I can't disagree with you because I'm not there. But you can't argue the financial impact of these workers sending money home.

Estimatingly,97% of nursing school in the Philippines are privately funded..the remaining 3% are the state universities who offers Nursing..and Nursing is a very expensive course and the government doesnt really support financially those who like to take up the course.It is individually funded by the students who aspires to be Nurse.I've heard that China is building up its nurses for export, but in the Philippines, we supply nurses in other countries since the 70's, and its always been a trend, so the government is not that very eager to build up a nursing factory as it is used to the fact that Filipino normally work overseas and been invited by other countries.Yes, these helps a lot in the economy as it brings billions of dollars a year but, the people are the ones who funded themselves to go out of the country not the government.