From 60 in 2003, Isabela now has only 28 docs

ILAGAN, Isabela — From more than 60 two years ago, this country’s third largest province now has only 28 full-time doctors to serve its more than one million inhabitants spread in 35 municipalities, including four far-flung coastal towns, and two cities.

Dr. Glenn Matthew Baggao, chief of the provincial government-run Faustino Dy Sr. Memorial Hospital here, blamed the declining number of government physicians and nurses to the government’s failure to improve their plight, especially in terms of salaries and other monetary benefits.

"Doctors in the countryside are left to do charity work for patients. Many government doctors are actually serving due to their patriotism and sacrifice. But people have the right to seek financial growth, too," he said.

Increasing their salaries and giving them other monetary incentives, according to Baggao, will "definitely stop our doctors and nurses from seeking other financial opportunities abroad."

At the provincial hospital alone, Baggao said several doctors and nurses resigned this year and went abroad to work as nurses.

He said many government doctors have also availed themselves of early retirement to embark on a more lucrative private practice.

At present, he said, the lowest paid doctor only receives a gross pay of P15,000 monthly, and the highest paid, P22,000.

"How can you sustain a family if you are burdened with loans and there is nothing left to take home? Who cannot resist the P150,000 to P300,000 salary offered in other countries?" he said.

The plight of government health practitioners in the province was further aggravated when the provincial government stopped extending an additional P10,000 allowance, especially for doctors, due to lack of funds.

"This is a wake-up call for the national government. The country is behind in terms of the compensation package for our health workers," Baggao said.