Private vs. Public: Which Hospital is Best For You to Work in?

JobStreet gives you the pros and cons of working in a private and public hospital.

According to the Commission on Higher Education, the country saw over 42,000 graduates from the medical field in 2019. This is the third-highest number among disciplines, next to Business Administration and Education. The figure shows that many young Filipinos consider working for the healthcare system as a viable career.

Why Seek a Career in Health Services?

Healthcare is a basic service and therefore stays in demand, promising job security. As a result, medical graduates can work in many settings"”private or public hospitals, clinics, infirmaries and even universities. Other advantages include:

• Career flexibility and advancement
• Dynamic work
• Strong collaboration
• Job fulfillment

If you are a fresh graduate, working in a hospital can be ideal for putting your knowledge into practice. Exposure to different kinds of people and medical processes strengthens hard and transferable skills, and helps you map out a career path.

But seasoned employees may also find switching roles or advancing their careers easier in hospitals. As the healthcare industry continues to grow, so do job opportunities.

According to the Department of Health (DOH), hospitals in the Philippines are 60% private. On the other hand, public hospitals are at 40%. Despite this disparity in number, both offer unique advantages for healthcare professionals.

Private hospitals may offer these benefits:

Workplace proximity

Because private hospitals outnumber public ones, there is a higher chance for you to find one near your home.

More career choices

Both novice and veteran medical practitioners may find work faster in private hospitals. In contrast, permanent positions in public hospitals are limited, forcing them to seek mostly contractual workers.

Easier advancement

Public hospitals typically have strict requirements for promotion, which makes the process more tedious. Generally, private hospitals provide faster professional growth.

Manageable workload

More Filipinos visit government hospitals due to their affordability. Consequently, public health workers deal with more patients daily than those in private hospitals.

However, working in a public hospital also offers these advantages:

Rigorous training

Public health employees are known to be sturdy, multi-tasking bunch. The training they get prepares them to thrive in any environment.  Â

Higher income

Thanks to the Magna Carta for Public Health Workers, medical professionals now enjoy a steady salary increase and extra pay for hazards, subsistence, and even laundry.

Comprehensive benefits

The main perk of working for the government are retirement and health benefits.

Regular training

Because of the government's many partnerships, public service employees often get opportunities to train and attend seminars here and abroad.

But wherever you choose to work, being a healthcare professional is important and fulfilling work. With health and safety as a cornerstone of communities everywhere, your role will always remain relevant.

Ready to find your next medical role? Explore Jobstreet for #JobsThatMatter to you and a healthy nation. Update your profile and add #WorkNow if you are able to start working immediately. For more tips and news, check out Career Advice.

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