DOH asks Pinoy nurses to stay and work in PH

THE Department of Health (DOH) is again urging licensed nurses to work in hospitals, whether public or private, amid a continuing shortage of nurses in the country.

DOH spokesperson Undersecretary

Enrique Tayag made the appeal in response to the proposal of Camarines Sur 2nd District Representative Luis Raymund Villafuerte Jr. for the DOH to track down around 124,000 registered nurses who were believed to be unemployed, underemployed, or doing non-nursing work, GMA News reported.

Tayag said the DOH has already considered such a thing to fill in the vacancies in government hospitals.

“We ask our nurses: Where are you?

Our country needs you. Come to us because we are waiting for you and this may be the time for you to serve in hospitals, not only in public, but also in private ones,” the health official said.

Tayag said that while the government cannot force licensed nurses to work in government hospitals, the DOH will continuously announce job postings for nurses hoping that they would apply.

DOH Secretary Ted Herbosa has repeatedly raised concern about this matter, noting that 4,500 plantilla items for nurses are currently vacant in over 70 hospitals of the DOH nationwide.