More Filipino nurses working as caregivers abroad, says group

The lure of greener pastures is making Filipino nurses leave their profession in the country to work as caregivers  abroad, a group said on Monday's "24 Oras" report by JP Soriano.

"They are being offered almost hundred thousand [pesos] and up na sweldo. How much more na if they will be registered nurse," Melvin Miranda, president of the Philippine Nurses Association (PNA), said.

PNA said the offers become more enticing because hiring is done directly and without the need for an employment agency.

Crystal Campilan, a nursing graduate in 2009, said she worked as sales accountant in a pharmaceutical company to immediately have income.

Now that she has a family, she is aiming to work abroad as nurse or caregiver because of the pay.

"Para naman makatulong naman ako sa family ko, mabigyan ko ng magandang kinabukasan," she said.

The Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines, Inc. (PHAPI) said at least 40 percent of nurses from various private hospitals have resigned in the last two and a half years. 

It added private hospitals in the Philippines cannot match the salaries being offered to nurses abroad.
 
"There are 18,000 nurses na newly licensed nitong recently. We just hope na they try to work here and gain their experiences before they leave for abroad,” PHAPI president Rene Jose de Grano said.

Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said the government has placed limits on the deployment of nurses as the country needs them as well.

"Merong supposedly cap o the number of nurses or healthcare workers na lumalabas ng bansa principally because nangangailangan din ang Pilipinas especially in the last two and a half years," Laguesma said.

The department said it also hopes the bill seeking pay and benefits increase for nurses will finally pass in Congress. —LDF/KG, GMA Integrated News