Private hospitals lack half of nursing staff too, exodus unchecked

By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Maricel V. Cruz

THE Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines Inc. (PHAPI) on Tuesday said private hospitals in the country lack 50 percent of their nursing staff.

In an interview over radio dzBB, PHAPI president Dr. Jose Rene de Grano said that even before, private hospitals lacked at least 40 percent of their nursing staff.

“Perhaps, there was another 10 percent for the past two years,” he said.

He also said it’s likely that half of what needed have already left, having resigned and opted for better-paying jobs elsewhere.

He said the exodus of nurses will limit the service private hospitals can provide.

For example Grano said, some wards in private hospitals had to be closed.

He said a nurse in a private hospital usually can handle eight to 12 patients in wards.

“Twelve is the maximum in what we call toxic wards,” he said.

In ICU or special areas, he said, the ratio is 1:1 or 1:2.

“We have the facilities, especially in private hospitals. Our only limitation, and this already happened during the pandemic, is our number of nurses,” he said. Even public hospitals are facing a shortage of nurses.