Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 23) — The country’s health chief on Friday expressed support for the proposal to mandate medical and nursing graduates from state universities and colleges (SUCs) to render service in the country for a certain period of time before they’re allowed to work overseas.
Health Secretary Ted Herbosa said SUCs currently have the prerogative to decide if they’ll implement the so-called “return service” arrangement but that he would “love” if there’d be a law requiring this.
“I’d love it kasi [because] we’ll have the manpower for universal healthcare to happen,” he told reporters. “So, kung ipu-push ‘yan ng congressmen, tutulungan ko sila [So, if congressmen push for that, I’ll help them]…I won’t push for it, but I will probably concur with such proposal if it passes through the department.”
The secretary explained he backs the proposal since the education of students in SUCs is funded by taxpayers’ money. He said the Filipino people would be “short changed” if the graduates immediately leave the country for employment abroad.
Herbosa noted that the University of the Philippines is among those implementing this arrangement, with medical and nursing students asked to sign an agreement stating they have to work in the Philippines for a certain number of years after graduation.
“Pag umalis ka [If you leave] without paying that time back, you pay the government. The parents actually are the ones who sign,” he said.
