Everyone knows that there's an ongoing diaspora of Filipino workers in search of greener pastures. Consider these figures: The number of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who worked abroad at anytime during the period April to September 2006 reached 1.52 million. The 2006 estimate represents an increase of 14.3 percent over the 1.33 million OFWs estimated for the period April to September 2005. The Overseas Contract Workers (OCWs) or those with existing work-contract abroad comprised 91.4 percent (1.38 million) of the total OFWs during the period April to September 2006. This number is 14.0 percent more than the 1.21 million OCWs for the same months in 2005.

What's surprising, however, is the fact that "85% of RP health care professionals now abroad" (Philippine Star (Monday, 22 October 2007). No less that Health Secretary Francisco Duque III admitted this scary news. "For every 100 health professionals, 88 have left in search of high-paying jobs outside the country," Secretary Duque was quoted by the Philippine Star.

Indeed, official government statistics show that medical related workers rank fourth of the Top 10 occupational group of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) for 2006 (new hires). The top three are: household and related workers (29.7%), factory and related workers (14%) and construction workers (14%). "Over the years, the Philippines has become one of the biggest suppliers of health care workers in the world and in fact, per the record of the World Health Organization, the Philippines is the second-largest exporter of physicians, next to India and the largest exporter of nursing services," as reported in Manila Standard Today.

So, in an effort to stem the tide, the Department of Health (DOH) presented the first-ever awards for physicians - The Outstanding Filipino Physicians (TOFP). The five recipients of the first TOFP awards are:

Charlotte Chiong

Enrique Ona

Willie Ong

Carmencita Padilla

Eric Talens

Perhaps the service rendered by these medical professionals is better appreciated when one is confined in a hospital. When I had an operation at the Makati Medical Center, I was thankful to the competent staff. However, with the diaspora of medical workers, thid may no longer be true. When my father had a brain operation a few months ago, two of the nurses that attended to him went on leave in preparation for their travel abroad, while the rest were just waiting for their papers. It may not be long before prompt and competent medical care would be considered as a luxury, and no longer a basic necessity.

We'll soon find out whether the TOFP, or the efforts of the government, is sufficient to address this problem. However, whatever your opinion is about the sufficiency of government actions, everybody should be thankful to these physicians, as well as the rest of the medical community, who chose to stay in the Philippines.

Congratulations to the TOFP awardees! May your tribe grow.