As more countries reopen, PGH braces for exodus of healthcare workers

(FILE) UP-PGH in Taft Ave., Manila. INQUIRER/ MARIANNE BERMUDEZ

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine General Hospital (PGH) expects more of its “skilled” healthcare professionals to quit their jobs to work as overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) as more countries are now reopening, PGH spokesperson Dr. Jose Jonas Del Rosario said Friday.

“Nag-open po ang maraming bansa para sa mga [healthcare] worker. Madami po kaming nakikitang resignation ngayon at ‘yung mga iba po, skilled talaga sila. [Mga] matagal na pong operating room nurses, mga nasa ICU po,” he shared on ABS-CBN News’ Kabayan.

(Many countries have opened opportunities for healthcare workers. We’re seeing a lot of resignations and some of them are really skilled. Some are operating room nurses, while some work in the ICU — Intensive Care Unit.)

To brace for the expected vacancies, Del Rosario said that the state-owned hospital has been actively recruiting, stressing the willingness of PGH to train nurses with little to no professional experience.

“Iyon po ang aming problema. In fact, ang PGH po ay nananawagan sa mga nurses na mag-apply po. Marami po kaming bakante ngayon. Hindi lang sa ICU or operating room, pati sa mga ward. They’re actively recruiting para habang medyo may kaunting katahimikan ay madagdagan bago dumating, kung sakali lang, magkaroon ng surge…Kahit bago lang, willing kami mag-train sa kanila basta mag-apply sila sa PGH.”

(That’s our problem. In fact, PGH is pleading for nurses to apply. We have a lot of vacancies, not just in the ICU or operating room but also in the wards. They’re actively recruiting so we hope to hire more workers while there’s some peace before a possible [COVID-19] surge…Even if they’re new, we’re willing to train them as long as they apply to PGH.)

Taiwan  and Saudi Arabia are among the latest countries who have been approved for OFW deployment.

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/MUF