By Jerome Babate and Jesus (Gary) Domingo
As advocates for global healthcare, we feel compelled to shed light on how Australia, a destination country for at least 100,000 internationally educated nurses, should actively support healthcare initiatives designated by the source countries, such as Nepal, India, and the Philippines. Specifically, we would like to emphasize the importance of addressing the excessive reliance on foreign nurses and the need to strengthen the domestic healthcare system. This would contribute to global health security, as countries with strong healthcare systems are better equipped to respond to pandemics and other health emergencies.
Australia has greatly benefited from the labor and expertise of nurses from countries like the Philippines. The active recruitment of internationally educated nurses has successfully alleviated the nursing shortage in Australia and significantly improved the quality of care for its citizens. However, this reliance on nurses from source countries necessitates a sense of responsibility and reciprocity from Australia.
One crucial aspect of this responsibility is to support healthcare initiatives in the source countries. Like many other nations, the Philippines is experiencing a shortage of nurses due to the emigration of skilled professionals. This brain drain has significant implications for the healthcare workforce in the Philippines and impedes its ability to provide adequate care for its citizens. To address this issue, Australia should prioritize its foreign aid policy to support the nursing workforce in the Philippines. Australia can build a robust healthcare infrastructure in the Philippines by providing financial assistance to improve nursing education and training programs, promoting professional development opportunities, and implementing sustainable strategies to retain nurses in their home countries. This investment in developing the nursing workforce benefits the source country and strengthens the global healthcare system.
Supporting the nursing workforce in the Philippines is not only a matter of practicality but also aligns with the principles of fairness and social justice. The Philippines has long been a reliable source of highly skilled and compassionate nurses for Australia. These nurses often leave their families behind to fulfill their duty of caring for others. They play an integral role in the Australian healthcare system, and it is only fair that they receive support and recognition for their invaluable contributions. By supporting the nursingworkforce in the Philippines, Australia upholds principles of fairness and acknowledges the essential role these nurses play in the healthcare sector.
Moreover, investing in the nursing workforce in the source countries is a strategic move for Australia. Australia can ensure a sustainable supply of skilled nurses in the long run by fostering a robust nursing sector in countries like the Philippines.This reduces the need for excessive reliance on foreign nurses and strengthens the domestic healthcare system. It also contributes to global health security, as countries with strong healthcare systems are better equipped to respond to pandemics and other health emergencies.
To implement effective support initiatives, Australia should collaborate with organizations and stakeholders in the nursing sector, both in the Philippines and internationally. This could involve partnerships with national nursing associations, nursing schools, hospitals, and government agencies to identify the specific needs and challenges faced by the nursing workforce in the Philippines. By working together, Australia and the Philippines can develop targeted interventions that address these issues and promote sustainable development.
Authors:
Jerome Babate is an executive director hailing from Sydney, Australia. As the head of the Filipino Nursing Diaspora Network, an international organization of Filipino nurses, he passionately advocates for the welfare and empowerment of Filipino nurses across the globe.
Jesus (Gary) Domingo is a career diplomat in the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). As the Undersecretary for Civilian Security & Consular Affairs, he oversees crucial aspects of the country’s international relations. Formerly, he was posted as the Ambassador to NZ & Pacific, and contributed significantly as a multilateral diplomat serving in the United Nations in New York and Geneva.
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International nurses struggling to fit in https://www.jcu.edu.au/this-is-uni/health-and-medicine/articles/international-nurses-struggling-to-fit-in Retrieved on 21 June 2023
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