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The addition of 14 new experts to the health workforce is a boon at a time when the country is experiencing a massive exodus of health professionals, including experts from a wide range of fields, which has affected the quality of health services.
The 14 specialists graduated from the Postgraduate Medical College of King Khesar University of Medical Sciences of Bhutan (KGUMSB) on June 28 and include two gynecologists, two emergency doctors, three ophthalmologists, two pediatricians, two medical specialists, an ear, nose and throat surgeon, an orthopedic surgeon and a general practitioner.
This is the seventh batch of specialist doctors to graduate from the university. Since 2014, the Postgraduate School of Medicine has trained 77 medical specialists in different disciplines. Currently, 44 doctors are undergoing training in various specialties at the school.
However, despite these advances, serious problems continue to plague our health sector and medical centres. For example, the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital in Thimpu is struggling to address a critical issue that threatens to undermine the efficiency of the hospital’s critical care services.
We need critical care in our ICUs. This is a serious problem that needs to be addressed.
As of June this year, the country was short of 69 specialists, 103 doctors and 824 nurses. This shortage poses a major challenge to our healthcare system.
Trends suggest that this shortage is likely to worsen. No matter how many graduates we produce, we may never have enough health professionals to meet the growing demand. The question is: Why are our health professionals quitting?
The main reason cited by doctors and other health professionals is low wages, especially when compared to what expatriate doctors are paid. This pay disparity forces many of our health professionals to seek opportunities elsewhere.
The strategy of abandoning our health professionals and bringing in expatriates to fill the gaps is not sustainable in the long term.
Now is the time to get serious about retaining our health care workers. We need to dramatically improve their wages and working conditions; we must create an environment where health care workers feel valued and adequately compensated for their hard work and dedication.
Governments and relevant sectors must develop and implement comprehensive policies to address the root causes of this attrition. Investing in continuing professional development, offering competitive salaries and providing adequate support systems are necessary steps to retain health workers.
The health of our nation is inextricably linked to the well-being of our medical professionals. While we celebrate the new experts joining the medical workforce, we must also confront pressing challenges that threaten the stability of our health care system.
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