Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 11) — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday said the Philippines has become a “victim” of its success as world leaders have asked for the country’s help by deploying more Filipino healthcare workers abroad, causing shortage of medical professionals in the country.
\”Unfortunately, in terms of healthcare workers, we have become victims of our own success in that the Filipinos did really well during the pandemic,\” Marcos said during a meeting with US-based Business Executives for National Security.
\”And so every leader I meet says ‘can we have more Filipino med techs (medical technicians), doctors, and nurses?’ So we’re having a shortage here,\” he added.
The president said the Department of Health (DOH) is addressing the shortage. It is working out a deal with other countries that will accept Filipino healthcare workers and “at the same time train the equivalent number of healthcare workers that will stay in the Philippines.”
He also said the government plans to accelerate the board exam to produce more nurses.
Last June, Health Secretary Ted Herbosa announced the DOH’s plan to hire nursing graduates who scored at least 70 to 74 percent in the board exam. The passing grade is 75 percent.
