New York’s plan to hire more healthcare workers abroad, including from the Philippines, would provide opportunities for more Filipino nurses. Malacañang on Monday
This, as the US northeastern state braced for healthcare staff shortages amid its implementation of mandatory vaccination on healthcare professionals.
“Hindi naman natin maikakaila na mas mataas talaga ang sahod ng mga nurses sa Estados Unidos, we are happy for those na makakakuha po ng trabaho sa Amerika pero at the same time babalansehin po natin iyan dahil titingnan natin kung nagkukulang naman tayo ng nurses dito sa Pilipinas (We can’t deny that the salaries of nurses in the United States are pretty much higher, we are happy for those who will get a job in America, but at the same time we will balance that, because we have to consider if we are having our own shortage of nurses here in the Philippines),” Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a virtual Palace press briefing.
Roque said the government has the executive power to limit the sending of nurses abroad.
“Gaya ng ginawa natin noong nakaraan na nagkaroon po tayo ng cap, pero kung maaalala ninyo, ni-lift din po natin iyong cap at hinayaan natin na mas maraming nurses na makapunta sa Germany kung hindi po ako nagkakamali (We have done it before when we put a cap, but as you can remember, we also lifted the cap and allowed more nurses to leave for work in Germany if I am not mistaken),” he said.
Roque, however, said he is optimistic that the Philippines will not experience a shortage of healthcare staff as many nurses have passed the recent nursing licensure examination.
“So, ganoon po iyong sitwasyon, natutuwa po kami sa mga pagkakataon na ibinibigay sa ating mga kababayan pero at the same time titingnan naman po natin na baka naman tayo ay magkulang (So, that’s the situation, we are happy for the opportunity given to our fellow countrymen, but at the same time we have to see if we might have shortage),” he said.
According to the report of the NPR news, the New York State is anticipating losing 10 percent of their unvaccinated health workers as all health care workers at various hospitals and nursing homes in New York are required to have at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine by Oct. 3.
The staff at other institutions including home care, hospice, and adult care facilities must also be vaccinated by Oct. 7, according to state regulations and a mandate issued by former Gov. Andrew Cuomo last month. (PNA)