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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'We can't hire flunkers': Jinggoy on DOH's plan to hire non-licensed nurses

'We can't hire flunkers': Jinggoy on DOH's plan to hire non-licensed nurses

Published Jun 27, 2023 05:16 am


Sen. Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada has cautioned the Departments of Health (DOH) and Labor and Employment (DOLE) against hiring nurses who fell short of passing the Philippine Nursing Licensure Exam. Sen. Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada answers questions from members of the Senate media during the Kapihan sa Senado news forum Monday, June 26, 2023 (Senate PRIB Photo)

“Hindi dapat tayo padalos dalos. Hindi ako sang-ayon sa pagha-hire ng flunkers (We should not rush this. I don't agree with hiring flunkers),” Estrada told Senate reporters during the Kapihan sa Senado. “Buhay ng tao ang nakataya, tapos ipapaalaga mo sa di pumasa (People's lives here are at stake, then you will choose those who do not pass the test to take care of patients),” Estrada lamented. The Senate Committee on Labor, Employment and Human Resources Development, said the DOH should consider hiring the 18,000 new nurses who just passed the board exam. Estrada said the government should hire these new nurses who have not left the country. “Bakit hindi sila kunin at pakiusapan magtrabaho muna (Why can’t the government hire them and ask them to work here),” he pointed out. As part of the government’s plan to address medical brain drain, Estrada said he plans to file a bill seeking providing scholarship to individuals who wish to become a nurse or doctor. Once they pass the board exam, he said they would be required to work in the country for five years. “After five years, if they want to seek greener pastures abroad, then okay,” he said. Health Secretary Teodoro “Ted” Herbosa, who earlier floated the plan, has said the unlicensed nurses would be assigned restricted responsibilities within government health facilities to prioritize the safety and well-being of patients. According to Herbosa, 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. He also said Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma is open to the proposal and intends to hold discussions with the Professional Regulations Commission (PRC) regarding the issuance of temporary licenses for these nurses. But the PRC has rejected the proposal saying that nursing graduates who did not pass the board exam cannot be granted temporary or special licenses to work in public hospitals.

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DOH Secretary Dr. Teodoro "Ted" Herbosa Senator Jinggoy Estrada philippine nurses DOLE DOH
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