No need to impose moratorium on new nursing courses - Ona

MANILA, Philippines - There is no need to impose a moratorium on new nursing programs in view of the oversupply of nurses in the country, Health Secretary Enrique Ona said. Those who want to take up nursing in the coming school year may realize the situation and decide to go to other courses instead, he added.

“Let the market forces take its course. That is how the free market works ..... That will correct by itself,” he said in an interview.

The Philippine Nurses Association (PNA) is demanding for a moratorium on new nursing program, citing the oversupply of nurses in the country.

PNA president Dr. Teresita Barcelo claimed that as of 2010, up to 200,000 registered nurses were either unemployed or underemployed owing to the boom in nursing courses in the past few years.

The number of nursing schools had mushroomed in the country from 172 in 2000 to 491 in 2004 due to demands for nurses in countries like the United States and United Kingdom.

But two years ago recession hit parts of the world forcing hospitals abroad to stop hiring foreign nurses, thus affecting many Filipino nurses.

“In the past two years there was a downturn in economy. Many went bankrupt. So there’s no more demand. I think our students know what to do,” he noted. 

Ona added there is no need for a moratorium as some nursing schools have already closed on their own due to the decline in enrolment.