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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Bong Go to DOH, DOLE: Proposal to tap unlicensed nurses require deeper study ​

Bong Go to DOH, DOLE: Proposal to tap unlicensed nurses require deeper study ​

Published Jun 25, 2023 02:36 am
  Senator Christopher “Bong” Go on Sunday, June 25 reiterated his call for the Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to thoroughly study the proposal to tap unlicensed nurses, citing the need to comply with the law vis-à-vis the demand for additional health workers.                               Sen. Christopher "Bong" Go (Photo by O/S Sen. Bong Go)
Go said standards set by the law must always be taken in consideration amid the proposal to utilize nursing graduates who fell just short of passing the Philippine Nursing Licensure Exam.   “I urge the DOH to thoroughly study the proposal because we have existing laws and regulations to follow that are meant to uphold professional standards and protect the lives, safety and well-being of our people,” said Go, chairman of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography.   “Makakadagdag ito sa ating healthcare workforce, mabibigyan sila ng trabaho, at mas rarami ang pwedeng rumesponde sa pangangailangang pangkalusugan ng mga Pilipino. Pero dapat pag-aralan ito ng mabuti dahil buhay rin ang nakasalalay dito (This will add to our healthcare workforce, they will be given jobs, and more people can respond to the health needs of Filipinos. But it should be studied carefully because the life of our people also depends on it," he said.    The senator said it is important to comply with the standards set by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) even if the plan is to utilize nursing graduates who scored between 70 to 74 percent on the board exam.   “Mayroon tayong standard na dapat sundin. Importante dito 'yung standard…Dapat po pasado sila sa standard (We have a standard to follow. The standard is important here...They should pass the standard),” he maintained.   "Hindi po natin pwedeng i-compromise ang standard dito dahil uunahin po natin ang buhay at kalusugan ng bawat Pilipino (We cannot compromise the standard here because we will prioritize the life and health of every Filipino),” he reiterated.   The PRC has clarified that nursing graduates who did not pass the board exam cannot be granted temporary or special licenses to work in public hospitals.   But Health Secretary Teodoro “Ted” Herbosa, who earlier floated the plan, clarified that the unlicensed nurses will be assigned restricted responsibilities within government health facilities to prioritize the safety and well-being of patients.   Herbosa also said that only nursing graduates who achieved a rating of 70 to 74 percent in the board exam can be employed as supplementary workforce in the healthcare system.   The DOH chief also said that Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma is open to the proposal and intends to hold discussions with the PRC regarding the issuance of temporary licenses for these nurses.   Go, however, said the government can consider the viability of giving alternative roles for non-board passers saying these individuals could potentially serve as nursing assistants, performing tasks that align with their abilities and knowledge without reaching the level of a fully licensed nurse.    The lawmaker also said he remains open to the possibility of amending existing laws if necessary to further strengthen the health workforce while still being compliant with a set standards.    “That is why I filed the Advanced Nursing Education bill so we can have the capacity to further catapult our nurses to realize greater opportunities through the opening up of leadership roles, specialization in specific practice areas, and recognition in the fields of research and advanced nursing education,” said Go, author of Senate Bill No. 191 or the proposed Advanced Nursing Education Act of 2022.   “If enacted, the basic nursing education will also be improved by integrating community integration and immersion in the curriculum to encourage them to work in the local nursing community,” he stressed.

Related Tags

department of health Bong Go DOH Secretary Dr. Teodoro "Ted" Herbosa philippine nurses DOLE
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