DOH, CHEd start program to upskill nurses

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/RICHARD A. REYES

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) has begun to implement a free Special Nursing Review Program (SNRP) for nursing graduates, even if they have not taken board examinations.

“While you are preparing to become a licensed nurse, you can now become a clinical care associate (CCA) in DOH hospitals,” the DOH wrote in a Facebook post on Sunday.

Interested parties may apply for the SNRP at the nearest DOH hospital or DOH Center for Health Development until Sept. 5.

READ: Marcos to doctors, nurses: Stay, serve in the Philippines

The program is part of the menu of measures that the DOH and Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) announced to help ease the growing shortage of nurses in the country.

Aside from the CCA program, the CHEd is also preparing an enhanced master’s program for nurses that credits prior work experience, aiming to increase the number of nursing faculty.

The government is also preparing to further assist the accessibility of new nursing programs, which have so far increased from 354 to 408, with projections for an additional 2,052 graduates by 2027-2028.

The measures were part of the solutions that were discussed by the health sector and President Marcos in a bid to ease the country’s shortage of nurses and doctors.

The matter has been a serious topic in the health sector after a congressional study showed that it will take 12 to 23 years to fill the shortage of nurses and doctors.

Former DOH chief Maria Rosario Vergeire revealed during a congressional hearing that the country needs 189,548 physicians and 300,708 nurses. That translates to a shortage of 114,000 doctors and 127,000 nurses.

While distributing ambulances in Ormoc City last week, Mr. Marcos urged Filipino nurses and physicians to stay in the country instead of going abroad.

“You know, our nurses and doctors are thinking of leaving and working abroad. But we are encouraging them to stay. They are Filipinos; of course, they want to help their own people,” Marcos said. “For the first time in the Philippines, every single municipality and every single city has a doctor now,” Marcos added.

Marcos also reiterated his administration’s plan to provide all 1,642 cities and municipalities with at least one ambulance. /cb