Bill seeks to retain govt doctors in the country

MANILA, Philippines - A Masbate legislator has filed a bill, seeking to exempt doctors from the coverage of the Salary Standardization Law to provide them with a more competitive salary structure and discourage them from leaving the country. 

Rep. Elisa Kho said  that under House Bill 4101,  government doctors will be exempted from the coverage of Republic Act 6758, or Salary Standardization Law, and enable the Department of Health to come up with a salary structure for doctors.

The bill also encourages medical doctors  to work in government hospitals and clinics instead of working abroad.

"This will discourage our medical professionals from leaving the country and at the same time address the government's crisis in the workforce leading to provide quality health care and services for the Filipinos," said Kho, who is a doctor herself.

Based on the data from the Professional Regulation Commission, Kho  cited there are currently 72,000 licensed doctors in the country, making a ratio of seven doctors per 10,000 patients or one physician to 1,429 people.

"This is way below the standard ratio prescribed by the World Health Organization of 1 to 1,000. The shortage is even more evident in rural areas where only one doctor is available to serve 33,000 people," she said.

She said the shortage is a result of the decision of medical professionals to leave the country because of economic needs, lower salaries and inhumane working conditions.

"With our doctors migrating, the Philippines is said to be the second biggest importer of doctors in the world," Kho said.

The bill, now pending at the House Committee on Appropriations chaired by Davao City Rep. Isidro Ungab, provides that all doctors with proper employment requirements and documents in the government service and passed the Board of Examinations for Medical Doctors with permanent status shall be eligible.

It also provides that the DOH, in consultation with the Department of Budget and Management, shall study, review, analyze, revise, adjust and implement a comprehensive and competitive salary structure for public hospital doctors, independent from the provisions of RA 6758.