Pia: Committee looks into low salaries,
benefits of public health workers

The Senate Committee on Health and Demography is set to look into the unfulfilled salaries and benefits due to government doctors, nurses and other health professionals under the Magna Carta of Public Health Workers and the Philippine Nursing Act.

Health Committee Chair Sen. Pia S. Cayetano said the hearings will be very timely following the revelation of Health Secretary Francisco Duque III that 85 percent of the country's medical professionals are now working abroad.

She also took note of Duque's statement that only one government doctor is available for every 28,000 Filipinos, saying it's a clear indicator of the deepening crisis gripping the public health system as a direct result of the exodus of our medical professionals.

Among the measures to be taken up in the hearing set for Wednesday (Oct. 24) are Philippine Senate Resolution No.151, filed by Sen. Cayetano and PSR No.75 by Sen. Francis Escudero seeking an inquiry on the status of implementation and the alleged failure of Republic Act 7305 or the "Magna Carta of Public Health Workers" and Republic Act 9173 or the "Philippine Nursing Act."

Also on the agenda is Senate Bill No.736, filed by Sen. Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr., which pegs the minimum base pay of all government doctors at Salary Grade 28.

Officials of the DOH, Philippine Medical Association, Philippine Nursing Association, Association of Municipal Health Officers and various health workers' unions were invited as resources speakers in today's hearing.

According to Cayetano, nurses working in public health institutions are receiving measly salaries ranging from P8,000 to P10,000, which is the main reason why most of them opt to work abroad.

She said the Magna Carta of Public Health Workers was passed on 1992 with the aim of promoting and improving the social and economic well-being of our health workers, their living and working conditions and terms of employment. On the other hand, the Philippine Nursing Act mandated a minimum base pay for nurses working in public health institutions in order to promote their welfare and reward their commitment to public service and professionalism.

"Sadly, the objectives of these two laws have not been realized as the Philippines continues to lose its precious health human resources to other countries. The situation already poses a grave threat to the public health care system," Cayetano said.