THE DEPARTMENT of Health has asked the Professional Regulations Commission to relax its licensing rules for fresh nursing graduates to allow them to work in government facilities.

Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa made the disclosure in reply to Senator Francis Tolentino’s call for innovations that will encourage Filipino nurses to remain in the country.

“Ang problema, ang Civil Service natin allows only licensed nurses to work in the health sector in the government. Actually, nakausap ko na ang PRC. Kinausap ko na mabigyan ng temporary license for three years if they have graduated nursing to work in the government,” Herbosa said.

“Sa gobyerno lang muna tayo kasi mahirap kung palawakin natin sa private at baka doon naman sa private pumunta. So, if you’re going to go to government and work in a place na malayo, walang nurse, i-allow ka ng PRC since you are a four-year graduate,” Herbosa said.

Last October, Tolentino filed Senate Bill 1447 or the proposed Philippine Nursing Practice Act of 2022.

The measure aims to increase the ranks of better-trained, better-compensated and better-appreciated nurses.

The senator said that providing nurses better compensation and training is crucial in improving access to health care. He pointed out that low compensation is the main problem hounding the nursing industry.

This, he said, is the reason why many Filipino nurses end up working abroad where they are offered higher pay.