UP professor: Physicians also denied regular posts

MANILA -- Physician, like nurses, are also being denied of regular positions in public and private hospitals in the capital, a University of the Philippines (UP) public health professor revealed Tuesday.

"Without mentioning the specific names of hospitals, we know of circumstances that some government and even private hospitals here in Metro Manila rely more on contractual nurses than the regular nurses," said Dr. Marilyn Lorenzo, UP-Manila College of Public Health professor, during the 5th Media Seminar Series on Health of the Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines (PHAP) in Manila.

"It does not stop there. Now, physicians are also contractualized," she further said.

Lorenzo added that such circumstances are the reasons why the health professionals cannot be faulted for electing to find work in other countries.

"Until the government realizes that job orders that are for contractual positions and without benefits, these are not motivating to health workers. Our health workers will not stay," she said.

For the past years, there have been reports of nurses being hired not for regular position but for contractual jobs only.

Because of this, Lorenzo called on the government to address the matter as soon as possible.

She said this will be a win-win situation since having "satisfied" health workers will mean better healthcare for the people.

"We call upon the government to take up very seriously and provide these necessary conditions for our health workers so that we may be assured of health workers that will stay and thru that our people will be assured of better health outcome," said Lorenzo. (HDT/Sunnex)