Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 28) — The Filipino Nurses United (FNU) on Wednesday said the Philippines has more than enough licensed nurses who can fill the shortage in the country, but there are several factors why they choose not to practice their profession here.
“We have a surplus of nurses who are just waiting to be tapped, but they are discouraged by the very low pay and the heavy workload that they will encounter in the hospital setting,” FNU President Eleanor Nolasco told CNN Philippines’ The Source.
According to the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), there were 47,000 nursing board exam passers from 2021 to 2023.
The government should tap these professionals to fill the 4,500 vacancies in public hospitals, PRC Commissioner Jose Cueto Jr. earlier told CNN Philippines.
Prior to this, Health Secretary Ted Herbosa said he wants temporary licenses issued to nursing graduates who did not pass their board exam but scored 70% to 74% in order to address the shortage.
However, the PRC has clarified that it has no power to issue such licenses. Moreover, this can only be done by the health chief during a time of crisis, like the COVID-19 pandemic, it added.
Nolasco said FNU is also not in favor of Herbosa’s suggestion given the huge pool of licensed nurses the country has.
What the government should do is raise the salary of nurses, provide them with the benefits they deserve, and improve their working conditions, she said.
According to Nolasco, Filipino nurses working in the country are not only overworked but are also not paid enough given the service they provide.
Nurses in private facilities are only paid an average of ₱10,000 to ₱12,000 a month, while those in public facilities are paid ₱35,000, she noted.
Nolasco said these amounts are inadequate in order to support a family.
