Before we impulsively jump into it, we have to consider some important points on the floated idea of restricting the migration of doctors, as shown in a Philippine Daily Inquirer (PDI) news report posted to the Internet, from which I quote, as follows:
"DoH: Gov’t can stop doctors from leaving;
it is the law
By Nikko Dizon
Inquirer
08/03/2007
http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/news/view_article.php?article_id=80319"MANILA, Philippines — Filipino doctors would be barred from migrating and working abroad to avert a possible shortage of medical practitioners, if Health Secretary Francisco Duque III had his way.
"You don't expect Indians and Cambodians to treat Filipinos, Duque Thursday told reporters on the sidelines of his meeting with provincial governors and his counterpart in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao....
“While we’re out there treating other people, the irony is we don’t have anyone to treat our own people. Of course, the authorities will not allow it. Political leaders will not allow that. I will not allow it. If I have to respond to it today, I will close the door, he said.
"According to Duque, the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995 (Republic Act No. 8043) [should be Republic Act No. 8042, as someone correctly observed--MLT] allows the government to implement this extreme measure, especially 'when the profession is deemed mission-critical.'
THE FALLACY OF POSSIBLE BAN
ON DOCTORS' MIGRATION--IT IS DISCRIMINATORY,
UNJUST TAXATION, AND UNSOUND ECONOMICS
Did medical board topnotcher Dr. Elmer Jacinto--now nurse Elmer in the US--do right? (PDI, January 8, 2007). To his critics, Dr. Jacinto did not do right because he chose personal interest over national interest. In reality, Dr. Jacinto simply avoided being a lifetime victim of discrimination, UNJUST TAXATION PAYABLE IN KIND OR SERVICE, and the common mistake of solving a problem without addressing its roots or causes.
Against the backdrop of brain drain in the local medical profession and resulting shortage of doctors, especially in the rural areas, we as a nation expected Dr. Jacinto to render medical service to generally indigent Filipinos--a social responsibility to poor constituents borne by GOVERNMENTS of other nations that can pay for it, but NOT by our GOVERNMENT that cannot afford it. Therefore, what we have is a problem of INSUFFICIENT GOVERNMENT FUNDING, and those who faulted Dr. Jacinto wanted him to alleviate it by his lonesome self, without similarly calling for the help of the more logical source of solution to this kind of problem--the SUPER RICH--who could have been asked to subsidize him through a MONTHLY ALLOWANCE so he would stay.
Asking one or all of local BILLIONAIRES to give Dr. Jacinto out of their petty cash a reasonably satisfactory monthly stipend so he would not leave the country would not hurt at all the billionaires, but failure to do that and making the good DOCTOR stay would make him live in relative deprivation for a long time. Conversely, letting him migrate as a nurse as what actually happened is a sheer waste of his talent as a potential topnotch doctor, as well as a loss to our country deprived of his valuable services. Are we as a nation so bereft of discernment and creativity that we cannot see this absurdity, that we cannot find any ways of addressing it?
How could the govenment allocate millions upon millions of pesos in PORK BARREL, but not earmark even a relatively measly sum for a continuing local and foreign advanced TRAINING program, with financial grants-in-aid, for the potential cream of the cream in the medical profession--at least the top 5 of every medical board exams--aimed at making them bloom beautifully in their profession and induce them to stay and serve the more than 86 million Filipinos, not only as medical practitioners but also as educators who would promote "transfer of technology" to medical students, and thereby replenish the ranks of our dwindling number of competent doctors?
Further, why pick on Dr. Jacinto without doing the same to those who can very well help through contributing money for medical services, as eloquently exemplified by Mr. Mark Jimenez who donated P50 million to distressed educational plan holders, and Mr. John Gokongwei, Jr. who donated a whopping P10.25 BILLION (PDI, August 13, 2006) or roughly $200 million to a foundation?
Moreover, if the problem is government FINANCING, it should be solved by the nation through an equitable progressive TAXATION system, not by selective or discriminatory public service--tantamount to unjust taxation payable in kind--of the singled out Dr. Jacinto. And if we are talking of taxation aimed at promoting the health and welfare of Filipinos, we should look first at the capable rich with surplus or disposable income, not at the poor doctor who does not have enough for the needs of a comfortable family.
Indeed, those who can pay more for the attainment of a healthy, prosperous, and peaceful society should pay more--because they have more BENEFIT to GAIN and enjoy from such ideal society, and more WEALTH and happiness to LOSE in a society that, for lack of necessary government funding, is beset by mass poverty and concomitant crimes against rich persons and property, like rampant kidnapping and robbery. In the first place, even if the affluent pay more, they will remain rich and can still enjoy their comfortable lifestyle.
In war, patriotism alone will not solve the problem of insufficient enlistment in the military, so countries mandate compulsory drafting of able-bodied citizens into military service. The same is true in economics--patriotism alone of a few volunteer professionals will not solve inadequate funding for public services.
Thus, there must be compulsory contribution out of SURPLUS income by affluent residents, plus ABOLITION of susceptible-to-corruption PORK BARREL, an out-and-out Legislative-Branch encroachment on the powers and functions of the Executive Branch (DPWH, Governors, and Mayors) that helps even incompetent lawmakers win reelection--before we lament Dr. Jacinto’s decision not to become victim of DISCRIMINATION, UNJUST TAXATION, and INEPT PROBLEM SOLVING.
If we do not ask the very rich in our midst to make a bearable financial sacrifice for the sake of the nation to which they are economically and morally indebted--as it patronizes their products and provides them protection under its system of laws--why should we ask the poor Dr. Jacinto to make a worse financial sacrifice when he has no similar debt to pay to the people?
The existence of an enabling law does not sanctify the discriminatory and economically fallacious ban on doctors' migration. The law should be invoked sparingly, such as during times of war or pestilence, and only if the rest of the nation is similarly asked to sacrifice together with our doctors.
MARCELO L. TECSON
San Miguel, Bulacan
August 22, 2007
Cc: Selected government officials
Selected members of civil society
organizations, media, concerned
citizens, etc.
