It is said that “necessity is the mother of invention”. The use of modern technology such as computers, digital cameras, DVD and cell phones is a response to the felt need of consumers. When there is sufficient demand, a product will be invented to fill it.

But what has “brain drain” got to do with it?

Let’s take nurses as examples.

The Philippines is noted as a major supplier of nurses to the US, the Middle East and other countries. The demand for nurses abroad is so huge, the Philippines can’t fill up its share even in ten years.

Those who think “brain drain” fear is that this country will suffer due to a shortage of nurses. Thus, it has been contended that the outflow of nurses should be stopped or at least severely curtailed.

I have some observations. One is that we can’t expect most of our nurses to leave the country. Why? Because there are many obstacles to leaving.

The most important of which is passing a series of tests (which is difficult and time consuming because review classes have to be undertaken). Another major obstacle is having the money to pay for the tests and other fees. The entire process from exam to visa takes about two years. Those bound for the Middle East can do it in a year.

If indeed we will have a problem in supply of nurses, how do we solve it? Another observation is that to solve the“drain” we can produce more“brains”. We can train more nurses.

The moratorium on the opening of new nursing courses does not mean that existing schools can’t admit more students if they have the faculty and the facilities. We just have to produce more quality nursing graduates. If the cost of getting a nursing degree can be lowered, this would be a big
help. Perhaps, there is consolation in the fact that nursing schools turn down many who want to enroll.

The clincher is that nurses working abroad help our economy tremendously since they are highly paid. Their remittances could account for a large chunk of total remittances especially within the next ten
years. A nurse in the US has a take home pay of at least P200, 000 a month. (Incidentally, this is a good argument for increasing their salaries in the Philippines.)

I am sure a substantial number of families in Eastern Visayas are receiving remittances from nurses (I personally know some of them) and have been able to build nice houses, acquire cars, buy land, send
relatives to school and so forth.

Who’s afraid of the brain drain? I’m not. Don’t be. It’s good for our economy’s health.