Philippines Faces Growing Nurse Shortage Despite Increase in Registered Nurses

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MANILA: The Philippines has registered 37,098 new nurses in 2024, but many are expected to seek employment abroad due to inadequate pay and challenging working conditions at home, according to a member of the Philippines’ House of Representatives. This trend exacerbates the country’s existing nurse shortage, raising concerns about the future of the local healthcare system.



According to Namibia Press Agency, Representative Marvin Rillo highlighted that despite the influx of new nurses, the local healthcare system is under strain due to a significant number of professionals opting to work overseas for better pay and opportunities. Rillo, who serves as the vice chair of the House Committee on Higher and Technical Education, emphasized the financial pressures that drive nurses to seek jobs abroad, often in roles that do not utilize their nursing skills.



Rillo further stated that the current compensation packages for nurses in the Philippines are insufficient to retain them within the country, calling for increased investment in the nursing sector to mitigate the outflow of talent. The situation is compounded by a report from the World Health Organization indicating a current shortage of 127,000 nurses in the Philippines, with projections suggesting that the shortfall could rise to 250,000 by 2030 if the issue is not addressed.



This ongoing shortage poses a significant challenge to the country’s healthcare infrastructure, necessitating urgent policy interventions to improve nurse retention and ensure the sustainability of the national health system.