New markets seen opening up for nurses

MANILA, Philippines - Filipino nurses can look forward to better employment opportunities in the coming year as new markets are likely to open up.

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz cited Belgium as among the possible new markets for nurses.

Baldoz said Belgium is preparing for a high demand for nurses to take care of its growing number of elderly. She said Belgium does not have enough nursing students to meet its needs.

She said there are exchanges between the Philippines and Belgium on the review of the nursing curriculum.

“A team from the education ministry of Belgium came here to review the curriculum in selected universities and we also sent a team to Belgium,” Baldoz said.

“If the feedback is that there is no substantial difference in the curriculum we will just be doing a final validation, then we will start with a mutual recognition arrangement,” she said.