ANAKALUSUGAN Party-list Rep. Ray Reyes on Monday urged the Department of Health to study why many nursing board passers choose to be inactive and work in other fields.

“Sobrang nakakalungkot na ayon sa Professional Regulation Commission, 53.55 percent lang ng nursing board passers ang active at nagpapractice ng nursing profession,” Reyes said.

The lawmaker said this was one of the reasons why he filed House Bill 6631 that seeks to institutionalize a scholarship and return service program for nursing students.

Under the bill, a student will be required to serve one and a half years for every academic year of scholarship availed in his or her province or municipality hospital or provider as determined by the local government unit and confirmed by the DOH.

“Through this measure, we hope to help deserving students while also ensuring an adequate supply of nurses in the country,” Reyes said.

He added that the DOH should prioritize hiring jobless and inactive registered nurses over unlicensed nurses in the effort to fill the vacancies in government hospitals.

“Marami po tayong nurses, board passers, na naghahanap ng trabaho. ‘Di ba dapat unahin natin ang mga licensed nurses bago bigyan ng pagkakataon ang mga hindi pa nakakapasa ng board exams?” Reyes asked.