DOH to hire more nurses?

In 2010, the Department of Health (DOH) in collaboration with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) catapulted an employment-generating project for thousands of Filipino registered nurses who were either underemployed or unemployed.

Dubbed as "RN-HEALS" (Registered Nurses for Health Enhancement and Local Service), the latest program is a far cry from its previous version (NARS project) last 2009 which only provided 6 months of combined community and hospital experience.


However, only a meager 25,000 (or less) registered nurses got the chance to work during the previous two batches, failing to keep up with the current growth of unemployed/underemployed nurses in the country, which is about to reach its half a million mark this year.

According to Department Order 2011-0239 of the Department of Health, successful applicants shall receive 8,000 PHP each month while midwives will receive 6,000 pesos per month.

Also, the Local Government Units will give successful applicants an amount of 2,000 pesos in addition to other benefits like PhilHealth Insurance of 1,200 pesos per year, Group Accident Insurance enrollment of 500 pesos per year, and certificate of completion after satisfactory completion of the project.

Some frustrated nurses also blurted out that a fair chance for them to be accepted dwindled even more because the new application process increased the vulnerability of the RN-HEALS program to be dominated by those who rely most on nepotism and the notorious "backer system".

Despite flaws and unresolved issues, the RN-HEALS Batch 3 is said to be opening its doors once more for another 1,900 registered nurses this new year.