The Marcos administration is working on enhancing the benefits for Filipino nurses, offering them healthcare subsidies, housing, and educational programs. This initiative aims to encourage nurses to serve domestically despite numerous overseas opportunities.
In a press briefing at the Malacañan Palace on Wednesday, Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Teodoro Herbosa revealed plans to improve the benefits for nurses, in collaboration with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM). Herbosa emphasized the provision of health insurance as a significant step towards boosting nurses’ benefits.
“Not all people leave because of money. That’s what I realized because some really pursue nursing because they want to care for people,” Secretary Herbosa said. He further announced, “We’re actually allocating money with DBM to provide health insurance subsidies. It’s a small amount but it will allow them to get health insurance for themselves and even their family.”
Additionally, Herbosa discussed the administration’s efforts to provide housing for nurses in collaboration with the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD). “I’m trying to provide housing for our healthcare nurses because not everything is really salary. So I’m talking with DHSUD about developing a housing project,” he explained.
For public nurses, the opportunity to file for a Housing Loan at Pag-IBIG is also being promoted.
The DOH is exploring further benefits, including education programs where nurses can opt for master’s degrees or scholarships, among other educational pursuits.
