THE Commission on Higher Education (Ched) has lifted the moratorium that prevents colleges and universities from opening nursing programs due arising needs for health workers amid the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.
In a press conference, Ched chairperson Prospero de Vera III said the commission en banc approved the order on Tuesday, July 12, following a “thorough review and study.”
“(The commission en banc) decided to lift the moratorium on nursing based on an exhaustive discussion,” he said.
De Vera said the moratorium, which was issued in September 2010 due to the “oversupply” of nursing graduates and the quality of their education, was reviewed amid calls for lack of healthcare workers amid the Covid-19 crisis.
He said the country is in need of 201,265 more nurses based on the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals requirement.
“If you look at the total nurses in the Philippines and the current nurse to population ratio, you will notice that there is really a big gap in the supply side,” De Vera said.
“The demand side requires more nurses than what we have,” he added.
De Vera said higher education institutions can now apply and comply with the requirements to open undergraduate nursing programs. (SunStar Philippines)