Solon urges CHED to lift moratorium on new nursing courses

Quezon Rep. Angelina “Helen” Tan, chair of the House committee on health. Screengrab from the HOR livestream / File photo

MANILA, Philippines — A lawmaker is appealing to the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to lift the moratorium–that prevents the opening of new nursing courses–citing the shortage of nurses in the country.

During Monday’s session, Quezon Rep. Angelina Tan, who chairs the House committee on health, said that “now is the most opportune time” for CHED to assess the relevance of CHED Memorandum Order No. 32, which was issued back in 2010.

Under the memorandum, CHED imposed a moratorium on the opening of new programs in nursing, business administration, teacher education, hotel and restaurant management, and information technology (IT) education.

“Given this backdrop and how it will potentially impact our health care system, I believe that now is the most opportune time for CHED to assess the relevance of CMO No. 32,” Tan said in her privilege speech.

“In fact, this representation is urging the Commission on Higher Education to allow other higher educational institutions to open new nursing programs to enable us to produce more nurses,” the lawmaker added.

Tan said that even before the COVID-19 pandemic, a global shortage of nurses was already projected. The lawmaker added that a World Health Organization report likewise highlighted this, calling for urgent investment in nursing as the COVID-19 pandemic puts need for nurses into sharp relief.

“The role of nurses in our health care system cannot be over emphasized, not only in delivering quality health care but as well as in achieving our Sustainable Development Goals,” Tan said.

“They make critical contributions to the achievement of national and global targets related to a range of health priorities, including universal health care, mental health and communicable and noncommunicable diseases, emergency preparedness and response, patient safety, and the delivery of integrated, people-centered care,” the lawmaker added.

In 2011, CHED lifted its moratorium against opening new programs on business administration (BA), hotel and restaurant management (HRM) and information technology (IT).

JPV