DOH to form National Nursing Advisory Council

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) yesterday revealed its plan to create a National Nursing Advisory Council to address issues confronting the nursing sector, including a shortage of nurses in the country.

At a press briefing, Health Secretary Ted Herbosa said, “We’ll get the heads of the Philippine Nurses Association (PNA), the Philippine Board of Nursing and groups of private and public nurses. With this, we’ll not just address this issue of exam here, but find balance for them and address other issues like (how we can) motivate them to stay.”

He also said that the World Health Organization actually recommends appointing a chief nursing officer.

“That’s what the groups are pushing. I said, ‘I’ll do more than that.’ I’ll also create a whole council. I’ll give the board what they are asking for. We’ll come up with a department administrative order as to the creation of this particular council. We’ll get representatives of the private and public sector to sit in this council, and a de facto chief nursing officer,” Herbosa said.

According to the DOH chief, the council would handle all matters that concern the nursing sector as he noted the “many issues in the nursing profession, ranging from migration, board passing, qualification of schools, expansion, projection of our needs... These are the things that have to be (addressed).”?

Herbosa also plans to push for the passage of a law that will create a permanent post for a chief nursing officer in government.   

“We’ll get Congress to pass a law to be able to get a chief nursing officer for the Philippines to address these issues and will be under the secretary of health,” he said.

The PNA has expressed support for the move, saying their sector will finally be “given a voice on important health issues.”

“Being an accredited professional organization of nurses under the Professional Regulation Commission, this is a welcome development so that issues of salary, working conditions, nurse migration and job security will be given more focus,” the PNA said in a statement.?

For his part, nursing review center owner Carl Balita said his review center is giving free full review to all nurses who graduated but are not yet passers.                     

“Those who are employed in health institutions in government and private sector, we will give them priority. They are already there and just waiting for their chance to pass,” Balita said during the briefing.

“All they need to do is go to any branch of the Carl E. Balita Review Centers and take the diagnostic test so that we will have data on how good or bad they are. A program is already designed for them. They can go there online after duty, while working or while resting,” he added.                  

Balita noted they are partnering with the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry that will provide funding for the faculty during the review. — Delon Porcalla