The proposed measure which seeks to address the concerns and issues of nurses and the nursing profession is now up for plenary session in the House of Representatives.
This developed after the House committee on civil service and professional regulation, chaired by Bohol 3rd District Rep. Kristine Alexie Tutor, approved the still unnumbered substitute bill and committee report on the Comprehensive Nursing Act on Monday, Dec. 12.
The substitute bill is a consolidation of House Bills (HBs) 1094, 1590, 1712, 2582, 3298, 3558, 3648, and 3860 (Providing for a comprehensive nursing law, promoting a more responsive and effective health care system, and appropriating funds therefor).
These proposed measures were authored by Camarines Sur 2nd District Rep. Luis Raymund “LRay” Villafuerte, Tingog Party-list Reps. Yedda Marie Romualdez and Jude Acidre, Malasakit@Bayanihan Party-list Rep. Anthony Rolando Golez Jr., Parañaque City Reps. Edwin Olivarez and Gus Tambunting, Cagayan de Oro 2nd District Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, Deputy Speaker and Batangas 6th District Rep. Ralph Recto, and ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro.
In the committee hearing, Castro asked about the delayed release of benefits for the Filipino nurses.
“Marami pa ring nurses hindi nakakatanggap ng mga benepisyo. Hindi na dapat paabutin pa ng pasko na hindi natatanggap ng ating mga nurses ang kanilang benepisyo na pinagpaguran na nila (Many nurses still have not received their benefits. We should not let Christmas Day come without our nurses receiving the benefits they worked for)," the deputy minority leader said.
HB 1590 by Romualdez and Acidre sought “to institute reforms to further protect and develop the nursing profession.”
Among the reforms would be focused on issues relevant to nursing education, humane working conditions, better career prospects and dignified existence for nurses.
“The bill provides for the scope and practice of nursing to include certification, specialization, and educational requirements; expansion of the powers of the Board of Nursing to strengthen its role in decision-making processes concerning the nursing practice; and, enumeration of educational requirements for different levels of nursing practice to ensure competitiveness,” the bill’s explanatory note said.
“The bill also addresses the increasing number of Filipino health workers going to other countries by strengthening the nursing profession in the country and institutionalizing a better practice environment by providing better working conditions, competitive salary, and proper recognition,” it added.
Castro lamented that nurses, like most teachers and other health workers, are overworked and underpaid.
“Registered nurses seeking better job opportunities abroad or in other professions are still very much prevalent due to inadequate salaries and benefits, lack of jobs and security of tenure, and inhumane working conditions," she noted.
Castro also found “alarming” the high nurse-to-patient ratio, which she said, “compromises the quality of healthcare our nurses are able to provide patients.”
“We do not have a shortage of nurses, the country simply does not provide our nurses opportunities to practice their profession in our country and give them decent salaries, benefits, security of tenure and humane working conditions to be able to serve in our country,” she added.