PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. on Monday said his administration is working to improve nurse-to-patient ratios and fill vacant healthcare positions to boost the Philippines’ healthcare workforce.
“We must also work towards improving nurse-to-patient ratios, filling vacant positions [and] providing more opportunities for our Filipino nurses’ growth,” Mr. Marcos said in a speech at the Philippine Nurses Association national convention in Pasay City.
He said the measures would help nurses perform their duties more efficiently and enable healthcare institutions to better serve patients.
The government is working with the Department of Health to strengthen the healthcare workforce and improve working conditions for medical frontliners. It is also coordinating with the Commission on Higher Education and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority to expand healthcare training through alternative pathways for nurses.
“Our goal is to help more qualified Filipinos enter the profession, strengthen the capabilities and protect the welfare of our nurses to ensure that our healthcare institutions have the workforce that they need to serve our communities,” Mr. Marcos said.
He cited an increase in funding for the Health Emergency Allowance, from P6.8 billion in 2022 to more than P110 billion in 2026, for public and private healthcare workers.
The government has also implemented the Clinical Care Associates Program, which provides jobs and review assistance to nursing graduates who have yet to pass the licensure exam.
Mr. Marcos said the administration lifted the moratorium on new Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs in 2022, increasing the number of higher education institutions offering nursing courses from 354 in July that year to about 425 as of June 2026.
The government has also developed an enhanced one-year master’s degree program in nursing to train more clinical instructors and educators.
Mr. Marcos said strengthening the healthcare system requires sustained efforts beyond these initiatives.
“This calls for the cooperation of government agencies, the private sector, academic institutions, professional organizations and the communities that we all serve,” he said.
He also recognized Filipino nurses working in the Philippines and overseas, saying their skills, compassion and professionalism had earned international recognition.
“Whenever I meet leaders from different countries, the first thing they tell us always — they always come up to me and say, ‘We are so grateful for the nurses that have been providing exemplary service for our people,’” Mr. Marcos said.
“Your contributions deserve our recognition and our continued commitment to advance the welfare and professional development of nurses,” he added. — Pexcel John Bacon