Marcos vows better nurse-patient ratios, more opportunities for nurses

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday vowed to improve nurse-to-patient ratios, fill vacant positions, and provide more opportunities for Filipino nurses.

He made the commitment during the Philippine Nurses Association (PNA), Inc.’s 2026 National Annual Convention, which coincided with its 104th Foundation Anniversary and the 69th Nurses’ Week Celebration.

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In his speech, Marcos recognized the vital role Filipino nurses play in providing health care not only in the Philippines but also worldwide.

“Your contributions deserve our recognition and our continued commitment to advance the welfare and professional development of nurses. So we work very, very hard to strengthen our health care system now,” he said at the MX Convention Center in Pasay City.

“We must also work towards improving nurse-to-patient ratios, filling vacant positions, and providing more opportunities for our Filipino nurses. All of this is necessary so that our nurses can carry out responsibilities more efficiently and ensure that our health care institutions better serve our people,” Marcos continued.

Citing a previous foreign trip, Marcos shared how leaders from other countries value Filipino health care workers.

“Hindi ko na sasabihin sa inyo kung saan pero one of the countries that I went to—it’s a very rich country—and pag-upo namin sabi niya kaagad, ‘Do you realize that in our—all our ICU hospitals in my country 60 percent of the nurses and the doctors are Filipinos?’,” he said.

(I won’t tell you which country, but it is a very rich country that I visited. When we sat down, he immediately said, “Do you realize that in all the ICU hospitals in my country, 60% of the nurses and doctors are Filipinos?”)

“So, sabi niya sa akin—this is a king—sabi niya sa akin, kaya you—’ always please look kindly on us because you have the switch. If you stop sending us your healthcare workers, then the whole healthcare system in my country will stop,” Marcos continued.

(So he told me—and this was a king—” So please always look kindly upon us because you have the switch. If you stop sending us your healthcare workers, then the entire healthcare system in my country will stop.”)

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He said the government is coordinating with the Department of Health to improve the working conditions of health care workers.

It is likewise working with the Commission on Higher Education and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority to expand opportunities for health care training, he added.

“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 health care institutions have the workforce that they need to serve our communities,” Marcos said.

Furthermore, Marcos said the government increased the allocation for the health emergency allowance from P6.8 billion in 2022 to more than P110 billion in 2026 for public and private health care workers.

The government also expanded employment opportunities and provided review assistance to nursing graduates who had yet to pass the licensure examination through the Clinical Care Associates Program. In 2022, it also lifted the moratorium on the offering of new Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs.

Marcos called on government agencies, the private sector, academic institutions, professional organizations, and communities to work together to improve nurses’ working conditions and strengthen the country’s health care system.

“To our nurses: Maraming salamat po sa inyong taos-pusong paglilingkod. Ang inyong husay, ang inyong malasakit, [at] dedikasyon ay patuloy na nagbibigay ng pag-asa sa ating mga kababayan [at] nagpapalakas sa ating sistemang pangkalusugan,” he said.

(To our nurses: Thank you very much for your heartfelt service. Your expertise, compassion, and dedication continue to give hope to our fellow Filipinos and strengthen our healthcare system.)

“Patuloy po kaming magsisikap upang maibigay ang suporta, benepisyo, at oportunidad na nararapat para sa inyo,” he added.

(We will continue to work hard to provide you with the support, benefits, and opportunities that you deserve.) /jpv