Dubai: Large numbers of Filipino nurses are making the UAE their stepping stone to bigger paycheques and better a life in the US and Europe, costing the healthcare industry valuable training funds and hours.
Filipinos constitute a large number of nurses and paramedics in the UAE, with 500 employed by the Dubai Department of Health and Medical Services (Dohms) alone.
The UAE and other Gulf countries are popular with Filipino nurses, with an estimated 57 per cent of them working in Saudi Arabia alone.
Dr Abdul Gaffar Al Hawi, Assistant Undersecretary of Curative medicine at the Health Ministry, told Gulf News that most of the 400 nurses who leave were Filipinos.
"We lose about ten per cent of nurses every year, who go home or leave for better job opportunities. Most of them [who leave for better jobs] are Filipinos," he said.
He added that the ministry had no problems with their leaving, except for the fact that they have to provide the same training over and over again to new staff, who come in to replace the old ones.
"That is the main issue. We have to keep on doing the training," he said.
Dr Rosario Tigno, President of the Philippine Healthcare Providers organisation, told Gulf News many Filipino nurses came to the UAE to gain experience before leaving for better-paying jobs in Western countries.
"It is hard to leave the Philippines directly for a job to the US and Europe. When they are already here, it is easy to leave," she said. "Once they have experience here, about one to two years, they can leave," she added.
She said she has lost a nurse at her clinic and 10 colleagues in the last three years to better jobs in the US and other Western countries.
However, a Filipino paramedic, who requested anonymity for fear of reprisals, say his and his colleagues' planned departure was more due to rising living costs and stagnant salaries in the UAE.
"We are making the UAE a stepping stone as our salaries have not increased for a long time," he said.
"Our benefits here are no longer enough, even though we really care for the people here," he added.
Despite the exodus of Filipino nurses every year, health authorities are not fazed as the number of new and qualified nurses applying for positions is enough to replace outgoing ones.
Dr Al Hawi said other than the training issue, there was no shortage problem facing the healthcare industry in the UAE that required the authorities to change hiring policies. "Our country is an open country. We are not changing our policy" and will keep on hiring qualified people, he said.
The Health Ministry has about 4,000 nurses.
Your comments
The fact is that living costs are shooting up like anything but the per cent of salary raise doesn't balance with the cost of living. I have been working for a company for the past four years and my salary is equal to newly joined employees. This means that hard work is not noticed. Then why not migrate and get yourself recognised and paid well?
Smitha
Dubai,UAE
If UAE hospitals want to retain nurses they should raise their salaries and perks, improve work conditions.
Milind
Pune,India
I know many qualified experienced senior nurses People are bound to leave if their professional , financial or social goals are not met.
Mathews
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Filipino nurses already have experience in the Philippines otherwise they would not be admitted to the UAE. The reason for their leaving the UAE is due to an increase in the cost of living while there has been no improvement in monetary income.
Cesar
Dubai,UAE
Filipino people are known for their caring and loving nature. US and European based agencies hire directly from the Philippines so there is no need to go to the UAE first. Gulf experience is definitely not a requirement! The fact is US and European countries offer better packages. You can even bring your family along. One can never refuse a good offer.
Lenny
Dubai,UAE
It is true that Filipino nurses are using this country as a stepping stone, but does nobody think about why they are going? If they could the get same package then why leave this country? If they are not under stress, why do they leave?
Caroline
Dubai,UAE
Unless Filipino nurses get the right salary no body can blame them.
Bipin
Dubai,UAE
This issue is mostly due to the high cost of living now in the UAE, especially Dubai. There's no way Filipinos will stick to this country anymore.
Henry
Dubai,UAE
You get what you pay for. So if you want to retain the nurses start paying them a fair and decent wage. Moreover why would anyone in their right mind give up the opportunity to get a green card and secure a better future for their children?
Dastoor
NYC,USA
I don't think that Filipino nurses are using the UAE as their stepping stone. Many US-based agencies are hiring nurses in the Philippines, so I don't think we need to come to the UAE to be able to go to USA or UK.
Cristina
Ajman,UAE
