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Saturday, October 01, 2005
1 doctor for every 14T Cebu residents
The burgeoning population of Cebu and the migration of doctors and nurses have hurt health care.
According to the Population Commission (PopCom) 7, there is now only one doctor for every 13,893 Cebu residents.
That’s way beyond the standard ratio of one doctor for a maximum of 5,000 patients.
Doctors attending the PopCom 7 multi-sectoral forum Thursday reacted strongly to the survey, asking, “What will become of the metropolis’ health arrangements in the future?”
The Alliance of Health Workers warned early last month that the Philippine health care system “will collapse within the next two to three years.”
At least 51,850 nurses left the country from 2000 to 2003 alone, the alliance said, and some 4,000 licensed doctors are now taking up nursing to improve their chances of employment abroad.
Minor services
Popcom, for one, is using barangay health workers (BHW) and midwives to handle minor health services, said Regional Director Leo Rama. Some nurses in government hospitals are also asked to take on some doctors’ tasks.
Yet these workers can’t be expected to stay too long. Many nurses are leaving the country for greener pastures.
BHWs, on the other hand, get only an honorarium that isn’t enough to keep them working, should better-paying jobs come about.
Midwives are getting fewer as well, compared with the growing population, with one midwife for every 20,454 residents.
Popcom is also turning to traditional birth attendants (“hilot”) to help provide health services to the public.
The need to improve health service was one of the most important factors identified in urban development during last Thursday’s forum.
Forum
The multi-sectoral forum was aimed at creating guidelines and strategies for the development of Cebu City. It drew the officials of different agencies and leaders of non-government organizations.
Cebu City Vice Mayor Michael Rama, one of the guests, commented on the importance of organizing a cooperative in every sector.
One of the reactors also suggested the revival of the Metro Cebu Development Council, a coordinating body for the planning, implementation and monitoring of metro-wide programs and projects. (JGA)
(October 1, 2005 issue)
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