New law sought to fix nurse shortage in the Philippines

File photo shows new nurses about to take their professional oaths. —NIÑO JESUS ORBETA Read more: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1792123/new-law-sought-to-fix-nurse-shortage#ixzz85QP7sEhy Follow us: @inquirerdotnet on Twitter | inquirerdotnet on Facebook

MANILA (Philippine Daily Inquirer/Asia News Network): Instead of tapping unlicensed nurses to fill the vacancies in the health-care sector, as proposed by Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa, the government should instead prioritise the passage of a comprehensive nursing bill that would narrow the pay gap between private and public nurses.

“This [proposal of Herbosa] ... should not be a priority and needs careful study first,” Philippine Nurses Association (PNA) president Melvin Miranda told the Inquirer.