Doctors' diaspora

Two weeks ago, First Gentleman Mike Arroyo gave a luncheon for 19 of the 61 scholars the FG Foundation has been supporting throughout the last two years of their medical studies at the colleges of medicines of the University of the Philippines and Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila. The first batch of 19 under the Bagong Doktor Para sa Bayan program who have just passed the medical board exams, as well as the two other batches still in school, will be serving in medically underserved areas in the country. As stipulated in their scholarship contracts, the scholars will be paying back their scholarships by serving in rural areas for three years. After their stints, they can go wherever they wish — and the hope is that they will stay, or return, after working abroad.

 There is yet another effort intended to check — if not completely stop as this would be impossible — the diaspora of Filipino doctors abroad. This is the Return Service Obligation Contract, an innovative approach of the UP Manila College of Medicine (UP-MCM). It requires all students admitted to the college to sign a contract stipulating that after they finished their course, passed the board exams and obtained licenses, they will render three years of return service in a health-related public or private institution in the country.  

This initiative has been long in coming, and eases the plaintive sigh of taxpayers over UP-MCM graduates galloping to other countries — after the government has spent around a million pesos of taxpayers’ money on their education. So what if these scholars are the country’s cream of the crop? They may be bright, that’s why they got into the medical program, but many of them are scions of well-to-do parents, and they go abroad for jobs in Jewish hospitals and hi-tech medical centers — unmindful of their countrymen’s need for medical attention, never looking back, never acknowledging that their education had been largely subsidized by their government.

The UP-MCM program seeks to correct this anomaly. At the Bulong Pulungan sa Sofitel Tuesday, officials expressed their concern, saying the Philippines been the major source of nurses to the world, and the second major exporter of physicians, next to India. They said the Department of Health’s Human Resources Health Master Plan predicts that by 2030, the country would have a deficit of 7,401 doctors.

State medical schools like the UP-MCM should produce an adequate number of doctors who will meet the critical objective of providing quality care to the underprivileged, and the right type of doctors who will be passionately committed to serving the evolving needs of the Philippine health care system.

Since the creation of the college in 1905, students have been paying only 17 percent of the estimated cost of medical education, thus receiving substantial government subsidy. As “Iskolars ng Bayan,” they should serve in whatever capacity in their homeland. Dean Alberto Roxas told Bulong Pulungan that by Year 2019, there will be 480 UPCM medical graduates serving in the country at any given time.

 There is no way graduates can work abroad without fulfilling the terms of the contract as a certification from the dean will show that they have complied with the return service contract. Without the certification, the doctors won’t be accepted in any hospital abroad. Those who insist on not following the contract will be penalized by paying double the amount of government subsidy they received for their medical education, plus interest fees.

Another Bulong Pulungan speaker, Dr. Alberto Romualdez, described the return service as “a bold step.” He said in the 60s, a source of worry was the exodus of 90 percent UPCM graduates leaving the country. In 1965, out of 111 graduates, only 13 stayed to work in the Philippines.

Three others speakers were Dr. Paolo Pagkatipunan, director of the Postgraduate Institute of Medicine; Dr. Julius Caban, and Dr. Antonia Esteban Habana, college secretary.

The doctors expressed optimism that other medical schools will also create return service obligation contracts.

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Yes, the Young Women’s Christian Association of the Philippines is alive and well, and will in fact celebrate its 60th anniversary on Saturday, September 27, with a dinner-dance and awarding ceremonies at the Casa Marinero, NYK, in Intramuros. To highlight the celebration, the anniversary committee has invited Manila City Mayor Alfredo S. Lim, a man who serves as the members’ model of the good and faithful public service servant, to give the keynote speech. Expected to give remarks are MMDA Chair Bayani Fernando and Manila Vice Mayor Francisco Domagoso, and Prof. Solita Collas Monsod.

The national YWCA building stands at the corner of UN Avenue and Gen. Luna streets in Manila. Sixty years ago, the association was organized to help young women make good use of their time and get involved in such programs as citizenship, adult and literacy education, health and physical education, and home management. During the last five decades, it has held youth camps and programs, public forums, seminars and workshops on local and national issues, and put up hotels and residence services.

 The National YWCA was formed as an affiliate of the World YWCA, the oldest and largest multinational women’s organization in the world with affiliates in 130 countries, including the National YWCA of the Philippines, and counts over 25 million individual members. The national YWCA has 27 local associations, including the Manila YWCA.

The Manila YWCA, in fact, preceded the formation of the National YWCA, and actually started out as the Time Investment Club, formed in 1921 under the leadership of Mrs. Felicisima Balgos Barza. A group of students met regularly to study God’s word and pray and engage in wholesome activities. In 1925, the Manila YWCA was formed, with Mrs. Josefa Jara Martinez, mother of former First Lady Ming Ramos, as leader. With the formation of the Manila, Baguio and San Pablo YWCAs, it came naturally for the national YWCA to be formed as the umbrella organization, and hold its first national convention in 1948.

Women, mature and young, who have made the YWCA a part of their lives will be at Saturday’s celebration. Some of them will be given awards, among them Danielle Erika Luna, who will be crowned Little Ms. YWCA.

 National president is Florida Z. Jose, and in charge of attracting more members to the organization is Marge Lamberte. Gov. Leonida B. Cruz, president of the Manila Y, is over-alll chair of the 60th anniversary celebration.

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