Only 40% of registered nurses work in the Philippines; org calls for mass hiring

Only around 40 percent of the over 500,000 registered nurses in the Philippines actually work in the country, said the Philippine Nurses Association.

In Darlene Cay's report on "24 Oras," the Filipino Nurses United said this is not enough for the needs of the healthcare industry.

The organization urged both public and private hospitals to have mass hiring of nurses to help combat the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

"Kasi kung mayroong sapat na staffing, sana mas mayroong pahinga ang nurses at 'di sila masyadong pagod na magpapabagsak sa kanilang immune system," said Filipino Nurses United's Secretary-General Joycelyn Andamo.

Aside from mass hiring, PNA's Immediate Past VP Dr. Erlinda Palaganas urged the government to take care of the nurses serving the country.

"It should go to really putting for example existing laws 'yung sweldo nila, 'yung hazard pay nila," she said. "Ipatupad ang protection. We give it to them."
 
According to the Department of Health, over 759 registered nurses in the Philippines have been confirmed to have COVID-19. —Kaela Malig/MGP, GMA News