Atin Ito First Filipino Community Newspaper in Ontario
College graduates can now take a master’s degree in nursing for one year as part of the government’s efforts to address the nursing shortage and boost healthcare in the country.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., in a meeting with the Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) Healthcare Sector, approved the Enhanced Master’s Degree in Nursing program, which will be piloted in 17 higher educational institutions (HEIs) by August this year.
This program, which previously took three years, will also be offered online through the University of the Philippines Open University and will also be available to overseas Filipino workers.
“We appreciate President Marcos’ dedication to ensuring that our healthcare system is robust and capable of meeting the needs of our citizens. The government’s commitment, combined with the private sector’s expertise and resources, is invaluable in achieving this goal,” said Sabin Aboitiz, PSAC lead convener and Aboitiz Group president and chief executive officer (CEO).
The PSAC also reported substantial progress in the Clinical Care Associates Program, the Enhanced Master’s Program, Bilateral Labor Agreements, and the Balik Nurse Campaign.
A total of 457 graduates availed of the Clinical Care Associate program and were successfully matched to HEIs for board reviews, with exams scheduled for November 2024.
The PSAC also shared progress in producing anti-TB and anti-HIV medications.
It also reported that the Food and Drug Administration is targeting a 73.4 percent digitalization rate to part of the efforts to achieve PIC/S and WHO accreditation, which are pivotal in ensuring drug accessibility and safety for the Filipino population.
“We are committed to working hand-in-hand with the government to address the pressing healthcare needs of our nation. Our collaborative efforts are crucial in building a resilient and efficient healthcare system,” said Paolo F. Borromeo, PSAC Healthcare Sector lead and Ayala Healthcare Holdings’ president and CEO.
The PSAC also stated that it will continue supporting PhilHealth’s intelligence technology transformation to realize the Integrated Health Insurance Digital Transformation Systems by first quarter of next year.
Updates to benefit packages, including a 30 percent increase in case rates and the expansion of the Konsulta Primary Care Provider Network (KPCPN), were also discussed.
On the other hand, Commission on Higher Education Chairman Prospero “Popoy” de Vera said that will present a detailed discussion on radiologic technology in the next PSAC Healthcare meeting on September 12.
“As we increase the use of technology of hospitals, we will eed people to run the machines. And we are not producing enough radtechs in the country. So we will present in the next meeting of PSAC a more detailed discussion on radiologic technology,” de Vera stated.
The PSAC Healthcare Sector said it will continue to work closely with the government agencies and private sector partners to implement these recommendations. — Xander Dave Ceballos
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