Press Release
May 5, 2019

For overworked, underpaid nurses
NANCY TO PUSH ANEW COMPREHENSIVE NURSING LAW

"Now that we have addressed universal health coverage for everyone lalo na ang mga mahihirap, it's about time na bigyan din natin ng tuon ang mga nurses at mga tagapagbigay-pangangalaga."

Senator Nancy Binay is pushing for a New Comprehensive Nursing Law that includes the creation of a Professional Regulatory Board that would regulate and professionalize the nursing sector.

According to Binay, with the passage of the Universal Healthcare Act, she expects more work would be shouldered by nurses.

"Mas madadagdagan sila ng responsibilidad at trabaho, pero walang pagbabago sa kanilang sweldo," she noted.

Binay filed Senate Bill number 2069 which seeks to institute measures towards the protection and improvement of the nursing profession.

"The full potential of nurses as partner of the government in providing quality and affordable healthcare services is undermined by unemployment, underemployment, and poor working conditions," Binay pointed out.

The reelectionist senator added that the benefits nurses receive cannot even sustain decent family living, noting that many new nurses working in hospitals receive wages between P250 and P350 a day.

"Sa liit ng kanilang sweldong tinatanggap, mahirap isipin kung paano mapapagkasya kung pamilyado sila. At ngayon, ini-expect natin na maraming Pilipino ang mabibigyan ng healthcare coverage dahil sa universal healthcare law, tama lang na bigyan din ng tutok ang mga concerns ng nurses," she added.

The measure also proposes that nurses working in public and private institutions be given a minimum base pay equivalent to Salary Grade-15, or at least P33,000.

"The State has also to look after healthworkers. Marami pa ring naka-Job Order at di regular na pinapasahod," Binay said.

Binay seeks the creation of a seven-man Professional Regulatory Board of Nursing or Board that would ensure the proper conduct of the NLE (Nurse Licensure Exams) which includes the application, test development, examination, correction and release of results; and to issue, suspend, revoke or reissue certificates of registration for the practice of nursing and ensure the widest publication through electronic and written media.

The Board is also mandated to enforce and monitor safe and quality standards of nursing practice and study the conditions affecting the nursing practice in the Philippines.

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