AN EFFICIENT healthcare system is far from attainable without sufficient doctors, nurses and heathcare workers manning public hospitals.
During the Senate hearing on the proposed 2027 health budget, Senator Bong Go raised staffing gaps in the public health system.
This comes as Go asked the Department of Health (DOH) to seriously consider the idea of filling up thousands of vacant government health positions which include doctors, nurses and healthcare healthcare workers.
According to Go, filling up vacancies in the DOH would somehow address lack of doctors and nurses in public hospitals.
Data presented during the budget hearing showed that the DOH has yet to fill up 9,000 vacancies.
“Meron po tayong almost 100,000 positions in the DOH, more than 9,000 positions remain unfilled. Sana po’y matugunan rin po ito,” Go said.
Addressing the vacancies, he explained, would open more opportunities for doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals who want to remain in the Philippines and serve Filipino patients.
“Sana po’y matugunan rin po ito, na marami, para sa mga health workers natin na dito na lang pong manilbihan sa ating bayan,” he added..
According to Go, many Filipino healthcare workers seek employment overseas because of better career opportunities and more stable compensation. He emphasized, however, that migration often comes with a heavy personal cost, particularly for workers who must spend years away from their loved ones.
“Hindi po nababayaran ng lungkot. Alam ko ilan sa kanila ayaw mapalayo sa pamilya, kung mayroon silang maayos at stable na trabaho, lalong-lalo na po ’yung mga health workers natin na gusto magserbisyo rin po dito sa ating bayan.”
Go went on to say that addressing the shortage of healthcare personnel requires government to make public service a viable long-term career. Filling vacant positions, providing adequate compensation and benefits, and ensuring stable working conditions could encourage more Filipino medical professionals to remain in the country.
He likewise emphasized that investments in hospitals, health centers, and other medical facilities must be matched by sufficient personnel. Facilities cannot deliver their intended services without enough doctors, nurses, medical technologists, and other healthcare professionals.
During the hearing, the legislator also pushed for the completion and operationalization of health facilities, particularly in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas where residents often have to travel long distances to obtain medical care.
He stressed that strengthening the country’s health infrastructure must go hand in hand with building a sufficient and well-supported health workforce so that government investments ultimately translate into accessible and reliable services for patients.
Go also renewed call to ensure that healthcare workers receive the compensation, benefits, and support they deserve.
He cited continuing concerns involving unpaid Health Emergency Allowances, recalling that the Senate Committee on Health had conducted multiple hearings to push for the release of benefits owed to qualified healthcare workers who served during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Kung validated naman, services rendered naman, at pinagpawisan ng ating mga health workers, sana’y bigyan natin sila ng importansya,” Go averred.
He then paid tribute to medical frontliners for their sacrifices during the pandemic.
“Kayo po ’yung hero ng pandemya. Kayo lahat mga medical frontliners, doctors lahat, kayo po ’yung hero ng pandemya. Hindi po natin mararating itong kinaroroonan natin kung hindi po dahil sa inyo.”
Go who serves as vice chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health, said strengthening and retaining the country’s health workforce remains essential to the broader goal of achieving Universal Health Care.
He emphasized that encouraging Filipino healthcare professionals to remain in the country cannot rely on appeals alone, adding that the government must provide actual vacancies, stable employment, competitive compensation and benefits, and working conditions that allow medical professionals to build fulfilling careers while staying close to their families.
“Sana po’y matugunan rin po ito,” Senator Bong Go reiterated as he called on the DOH to fill its remaining vacancies and strengthen the public health workforce nationwide.