MAKABAYAN senatorial bet Teddy Casiño hit as “insensitive and outright de-skilling” the advice of Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz for newly-licensed and unemployed nurses to seek alternative employment rather than wait for job openings in medical facilities.
“We are de-skilling our professional nurses in our very own land when many of our countrymen are in dire need of medical attention,” the three-term congressman said, pointing out the shortage of medical professionals in far-flung areas and government hospitals.
“Sa government hospitals pa nga lang, sa dami ng pasyente, kitang-kita na kulang ang mga kama at mga medical practitioners. Imbes na bigyan natin ng trabaho dito sa bansa, sinasayang natin ang skills ng ating nurses. Nandito nga sila sa Pilipinas, hindi nga sila caregiver sa abroad pero wala naman sila sa lugar kung saan kailangang-kailangan sila. We should be putting a stop to that practice by providing adequate plantilla positions and remuneration for nurses,” said Casiño.
The Phillipine Nursing Act of 2002 (RA 9173) explicitly states that it is the government’s responsibility to protect and improve the nursing profession by instituting measures including humane working conditions, better career prospects and a dignified existence for local nurses.
“Nadedegrade na ang ating mga nars sa nararanasang kontraktwalisasyon, mababang sahod, kulang na benepisyo, at sobra-sobrang patient load sa mga pampublikong ospital, samantalang dapat itinataas ang sweldo nila at binibigyan ng mandated benefits. Ngayon, itutulak pa sila ng DOLE sa trabahong labas sa kanilang tungkulin kagaya ng medical transcriptionist, billers and health care secretaries,” explained Casiño.
Casiño said that the perceived “oversupply of nurses” is relative to the inadequate existing plantilla positions, and does not reflect the actual needs of the people. He cited the data from the Alliance of Health Workers that while DOH recommends 1 nurse to 12 patients in regular wards, actual patient load of a nurse in a public hospital is 20-30 patients, and even up to 50-100 patients in some district (local) hospitals.
Casiño authored various bills and resolutions for nurses including House Bill 5230 upgrading the salaries of government nurses from salary grade 11 to 15, House Resolution (HR) 2312 inquiry on Subsistence and laundy allowances and hazard pay of public health workers, HR 2820 inquiry on dismissal of 46 Taguig Nurses, and HR 2926 inquiry on the conditions of nurses under the RNHEALS project.