Saudi drawing increasing number of PHL health and science professionals

The nation's brain drain includes a worsening hemorrhage of health and science professionals, many of whom are headed to the Middle East. An increasing proportion of these professionals are headed to Saudi Arabia, the top destination which has received a near doubling of OFWs in health and science in less than a decade. The consequences for the Philippines are dire. The Philippines is struggling to reach the needed critical mass of scientists and engineers as prescribed by the United Nations, according to Department of Science and Technology - Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI) Director Dr. Filma G. Brawner.

“The numbers we presented today contains a bittersweet truth about the S&T OFW landscape," Brawner said. "Our science professionals are highly marketable and are sought after by developed countries. However, we cannot give them enough reason to stay in the country and help us shore up the research and development agenda of the Philippines.".

Nursing and midwifery professionals comprise the biggest chunk of the science and health brain drain. They are followed by engineering and related professionals, health professionals, and the rest are computing, life science, mathematicians, statisticians, physicists, chemists and professionals.

 

Filipino scientists have always lamented the lack of government support for research and science. Thus, many scientists and researches opt to work abroad where they have higher pay and are exposed to the latest technologies.

 

According to various government officials, the country needs weather specialists, marine scientists, agriculture scientists, geologists, and resource managers in the coming years. The government also said it needs more certified computing professionals and engineers to sustain the business process outsourcing sector, a fast-growing industry in the Philippines. 

 

The second top destination for S&T OFWs is the United Arab Emirates, another country in the Middle East. The study said most of the S&T OFWs that go to UAE are engineers at 45% with nurses placing second at 42%. Health and computing professionals comprise the remaining S&T OFW populace in UAE.

 

“Pronounced increase is seen in 2008 with almost two thousand Filipino engineers leaving the country to work in UAE,” Brawner said. 

 

The United States also draws plenty of Filipino science professionals. Before 2001, those who go to the US are mostly computing professionals. They have been supplanted by nurses, midwives, and doctors.

 

Singapore is the fourth attractive destination for Filipino S&T workers, especially nurses, midwives, and engineers. 

 

The research showed that there was a decrease in the yearly flow of S&T professionals going to Singapore from 2001 to 2005 but surged up again in 2006 until it peaked in 2009.

 

The United Kingdom is the fifth top country destination for S&T OFWs with nurses, midwives and other health professionals flocking into the European country.  The flow of S&T OFWs to the UK peaked in 2001 and decreased until 2007.

 

Other top country destinations for S&T OFWs include Kuwait, Qatar,Libya, Ireland and Bahrain. — TJD, GMA News