Text by Jennifer F. Manongdo

Photo by Ehcel S. Hurna 

Leaders from various colleges and universities offering medicine and nursing courses pose for a souvenir photo during the conference “Defining the Roadmap for Transformative Medical and Nursing Education with Simulation-Based Education” Chancellor Michael Tee (13th from left, 2nd row) emphasized the institution’s commitment to provide excellent training to the next generation of healthcare workers. Inputs from the attendees will form the framework for the Strategic Medical Accelerated Roadmap for Tomorrow (SMART), College of Medicine Dean Charlotte Chiong (14th from left, 2nd row) said. 

Educational leaders gathered at the University of the Philippines (UP) Manila on Nov. 26 and 27, 2024 for a conference to support the development of a five-year plan to transform medical and nursing education to align with evolving industry needs. 

Insights and recommendations from the two-day forum will form the foundation for the Strategic Medical Accelerated Roadmap for Tomorrow (SMART). This educational framework will be submitted to the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) for review, guidance, and implementation, paving the way for an innovative transformation in medical and nursing education. 

A key component in the SMART framework is the integration of Simulation-Based Education (SBE) in the curriculum to enhance patient safety. The SBE allows students to practice theoretical skills on simulation mannequins, thereby enhancing patient safety in actual hospital settings.

CM Dean Charlotte Chiong discusses universal healthcare and its academic implications

Not Just Brain Drain

While brain drain is largely blamed for the insufficient number of doctors and nurses in the country, Department of Health (DOH) Health Human Resources Development Bureau Director Johanna Banzon revealed that the issue of inadequacy in the number of healthcare professionals is also influenced by the limited number of graduates in these courses. For instance, there were 23,434 enrollees in medicine courses between 2015 and 2019, but only 5,585 finished the course. Similarly, nursing schools saw 48,652 enrollees during the same period, but only 11,014 finished the degree. Consolidated government statistics peg the average number of dropouts in medical education at 76% and nursing education at 77%. Then, some opted not to pursue careers in nursing or medicine despite holding degrees in those fields.

To sum it up, the DOH official said there are three main issues in the Philippine healthcare workforce: inadequacy, limited learning, and career development opportunities, and push and pull factors (low attractiveness of the local health labor market and low retention in the local health facilities/systems). In response, she said that the DOH has prepared the National Human Resources for Health Master Plan 2020-2040. This multi-sectoral plan provides policy and strategic directions to guide the government in developing and managing the country’s human resources for health according to the goals of Universal Health Care.

In particular, the master plan aims to ensure an adequate, competent, and committed health workforce by providing fair compensation, decent work conditions, and opportunities for the career development of medical workers. It also aims to ensure the availability of health workers in health facilities and communities and improve the working conditions of healthcare workers. 

“We have to do what we have to make them realize that it’s better to stay here,” Dir. Banzon said.

Dir. Johanna Banzon of the Department of Health-Health Human Resource Development Bureau (DOH-HHRDB), raises a point during the conference.

Ways to Retain Local Healthcare Workforce

During the open forum, Dr. Alberto Roxas, former dean of the College of Medicine, emphasized the importance of working with other government agencies and academic institutions to retain health workers in local health facilities. He also suggested programs that connect students with community centers to cultivate a culture of service and academic excellence. 

Meanwhile, Dr. Efren Laxamana, chairperson of the Professional Regulatory Board of Medicine, emphasized the importance of maintaining competent and ethical medical practitioners through quality education.#