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DOH eyes earlier date for nursing licensure exam to add to hospital workforce

Philippines | National

DOH eyes earlier date for nursing licensure exam to add to hospital workforce

By Gabriela Baron

The Department of Health (DOH) is eyeing the possibility of having the nursing licensure exams scheduled at an earlier date to augment the hospital workforce amid a spike in the number of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases.

A nurse prepares medecine at a hospital in Manila. (Nicolas Asfouir/AFP)

In an interview over DZBB, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the DOH is currently in talks with the Philippine Nursing Association (PNA).

"We're having a challenge right now kasi yung uptake din po ng ating hiring ay medyo mabagal (because the uptake of our hiring is a bit slow) pero kami po ay nakikipag-usap na sa mga (but we're already talking to) societies at universities so that we can get some more health workers," Vergeire said Thursday, April 29.

"Ang isa nga pong aksyon na ginawa talaga pinag-uusapan if we can, with the Philippine Nursing Association, kung pwedeng i-move yung mga board exam na isasagawa na na-delay ata, na mas maaga para makakuha pa tayo ng additional cadres dito po sa ating mga ospital (One of the actions that is being taken is if we can, with the Philippine Nursing Association, move the board exams, which has been delayed, at an earlier date so that we can get additional cadres here in our hospitals)," she added.

Vergeire said the government has enough funds to augment the health workforce but only a few health workers are "heeding the call."

Over 7,000 health workers have been hired since the DOH launched its emergency hiring program at the start of the pandemic in 2020.

The Professional Regulation Commission has postponed the nursing licensure exam, originally set on May 30 and 31, due to the rising number of COVID-19 cases.

The licensure examination will be held instead on Nov. 21 and 22.

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covid-19 doh

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