DOH and PRC to discuss 'legal' ways to solve nursing shortage in state hospitals
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health will discuss with several government agencies possible legal solutions to address the shortage of nurses in government hospitals, Health Secretary Ted Herbosa said on Friday.
This comes after a commissioner at the Philippine Regulatory Commission (PRC) pointed out that current laws do not allow the government to issue temporary licenses to nursing graduates that fail to pass the Nurse Licensure Examination.
In a statement, Herbosa said that he discussed the matter with PRC commissioners and the Board of Nursing.
“They understand my view and they are there to help me find solutions. There are still many options despite legal limitations which I understand,” the health chief said.
“However, it's good to know they are with me to find the solutions to the 4,500 unfilled nurse items in DOH hospitals,” he added.
Herbosa added that Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma and PRC Commissioner Charito Zamora remain “supportive of finding legal ways to solve our health manpower problems.”
Herbosa previously floated a plan for the DOH to hire those who failed the licensure exams for nurses but obtained a 70 to 74% score, arguing that those who get a 74 score would at the very least have only missed one or two questions in the exam.
However, PRC Commissioner Jose Cueto Jr. said in a Laging Handa briefing on Thursday that no provision under the Philippine Nursing Act allows temporary licenses to be given to nurses who did not pass the board exams.
Republic Act 9173 or the Philippine Nursing Act only allows temporary licenses or permits to be given to licensed nurses from foreign countries invited to teach or conduct medical missions. – Cristina Chi
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