The Department of Health (DOH) stated that the Philippines needs 106 000 nurses for public and commercial hospitals and clinics.
Maria Rosario Vergeire, the head of the Department of Health, stated that the country also lacks physicians, pharmacists, physical therapists, radiologic technologists, occupational therapists, medical technologists, dentists, and midwives.
“We have a shortage or a gap of around 106,000 para mapunuan natin ‘yung mga facilities natin all over the country, both public and private,” Vergeire said.
“Sa ngayon, meron tayong mga plantilla positions that are still to be filled up sa ating mga ospital,” she added.
“Nananawagan po tayo sa ating mga kababayan na our nurses here in the country, midwives in the country, our dentists, and other healthcare professionals, meron tayong vacant na plantilla positions para ma-hire namin kayo,” Vergeire said.
She asked them to cooperate with the Human Resources Bureau of the Department of Health for their documents to be processed.
Vergeire raised the alarm about the migration of healthcare professionals.
She stated that the Department of Health wished to preserve the annual cap of 7,500 deployments.
Philippines in need of 106,000 nurses – DOH
“Isa po ito sa mga dahilan kung bakit nagkukulang ang mga healthcare workers dito sa ating bansa, specifically doon sa ating mga facilities. This is because of the migration of our healthcare workers,” Vergeire said.
“Hanggang sa kulang pa po ang produksyon ng ating bansa sa mga specific healthcare worker professions na ito, sana ‘yung deployment cap natin ay manatili na lang sa ganon,” she added.
Vergeire stated that the Department of Health was lobbying Congress for different legislation to address this issue.
She stated that DOH officials planned to meet with the Department of Migrant Professionals (DMW) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to consider incentives that may be offered to local healthcare workers to encourage them to remain in the nation and continue working.
In July, POEA reported that the government-imposed cap of 7,500 on deploying healthcare workers (HCWs) has not yet been met.
POEA chief Bernard Olalia stated that the country had an adequate quantity of nurses but did not provide an exact number.
Visit our Facebook page for more news updates.