The Outstanding Filipino Physicians » More countries open door to Filipino doctors

8 August 2008

More countries open door to Filipino doctors

Posted by admin under: Press Release .

LAST AUGUST 06, 2008

By JENNY F. MANONGDO

The Philippine medical industry is bracing for the exodus of Filipino doctors to countries which have allowed them to practice medicine even without taking a separate licensure examination in the host country.

The number of Filipino doctors in the country has been declining annually as many of them became nurses abroad.

Dr. Jaime Galvez Tan, former Health secretary and former director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), said the Philippines stands to lose more of them as Australia, Canada, Finland, Bahrain, and New Zealand recently welcomed Filipino physicians through migrant visas.

Tan learned that there are already 300 Filipino doctors practicing in Queensland, Australia. Another 500 are now in New Zealand.

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) has not been able to give the actual number of practicing Filipino doctors overseas.

“Ang US kasi, ang iba, they are importing through direct hiring at hindi na dumadaan sa POEA. Kaya ang statistics sa POEA 125 physicians lang left last year,” Tan said in a press conference organized by the Philippine College of Physicians (PCP) in Quezon City yesterday that coincided with the launching of the Department of Health (DoH) and the JCI Senate Philippinesâ€™ search for this yearâ€™s outstanding Filipino physicians.

The second search for The Outstanding Filipino Physicians (TOFP) seeks to encourage more Filipino doctors to practice in the country despite lucrative offers abroad.

The TOFP award is open to Filipino physicians, at least 41-years old and have made notable contributions in the field of medicine and national development.

Dr. Rey Melchor F. Santos, Philippine Medical Association (PMA) president, said the nationwide search was mounted to boost the patriotism among Filipino doctors, particularly those who remained and serve in the rural areas.

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