Philippines’ Nurse Shortage Crisis: A Call for Higher Salaries
Quezon City 4th district Rep. Marvin Rillo is sounding the alarm over the Philippines’ burgeoning nurse shortage, expressing concerns that the latest batch of newly registered nurses may not stay to practice in the country.
New Nurses Face Hardship Pressureing Them to Seek Alternative Jobs
“Largely due to the pressure to survive, some of them will likely try to seek immediate employment, even if it means taking on other jobs and not practicing nursing,” Rillo said in a statement on January 2.
The lawmaker, a vice chairperson of the House Committee on Higher and Technical Education, cited instances where nurses have found themselves working in real estate, insurance, or car sales. Others have entered business process outsourcing (BPO).
Current Salaries Discourage Nursing as a Profession
“We are not paying our new nurses enough to encourage them to practice their profession,” Rillo explained.
According to data from the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), the Philippines produced 37,098 new registered nurses in 2024, a slight increase from the 36,525 produced in 2023. However, Rillo noted these numbers are significantly lower than the average of 63,800 new nurses produced more than a decade ago.
Growing Shortage Threatens Healthcare Sector
Among the new nurses, a significant number are already looking at overseas employment, exacerbating the shortage of nurses in the country.
Data from the World Health Organization (WHO) indicates that the Philippines is facing a shortage of 127,000 nurses. If left unaddressed, this shortage is expected to rise to 250,000 by 2030.
Need for Increased Investment in Nurse Salaries
“We must invest more in our nurses if we want to retain some of them in the local health sector,” Rillo stressed.
Proposed Bills to Increase Nurse Pay
To address the issue, Rep. Rillo has authored House Bill (HB) No. 5276. This bill aims to boost the basic monthly pay of entry-level nurses in government hospitals by 74 percent, to P70,013 (Salary Grade 21).
Currently, entry-level nurses at Department of Health (DOH) hospitals earn P40,208 (Salary Grade 15) per month in basic pay.
In the Senate, Senator Raffy Tulfo is pushing for the passage of Senate Bill (SB) No. 2694. This bill seeks to increase the basic pay of entry-level nurses in public health institutions by 40 percent, to P56,390 (Salary Grade 19).
Toward a Healthier Future
The initiatives to raise nurse salaries are crucial steps in addressing the critical shortage of healthcare professionals in the Philippines. By investing in better compensation, the country can encourage more nurses to stay and practice in local hospitals, ultimately improving healthcare outcomes.
As the health sector continues to face these challenges, it is vital that the government prioritizes the professional welfare and retention of nurses.
Join the Call for Change
We invite you to voice your support for these initiatives and join the call to improve salaries and working conditions for nurses in the Philippines. Together, we can make a difference.
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