Sahod ng nurse, itaas sa P50,000, isinusulong ng mga mambabatas 

ISINUSULONG ng mga mambabatas ang P50,000 entry-level salary, at siguruhin ang ligtas na nurse-to-patient ratios upang maprotektahan ang healthcare workers at publiko.

Inihain ni ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio, kasama sina Gabriela Women’s Party Rep. Sarah Jane Elago at Kabataan Party-list Rep. Renee Louise Co ang House Bill 9841 o Comprehensive Nursing Law of 2026 na nagsusulong na i-overhaul ang nursing sector sa pamamagitan ng pagtugon sa systemic exploitation, mandatong P50,000 entry-level salary, at masiguro ang nurse-to-patient ratios.

“The current system is built on the exploitation of our nurses. We export some of the world’s best healthcare professionals while our own hospitals are severely understaffed and our communities lack basic care. This bill is a decisive step towards correcting this injustice and building a health system that truly serves the Filipino people,” ani Tinio.

Isinusulong sa panukala ang pagbasura sa Republic Act No. 9173 o Philippine Nursing Act of 2002 at tugunan ang mga isyu sa ‘nursing crisis: poverty-level wages, precarious employment, and dangerous working conditions.

“There is no place for contractualization and job insecurity in our hospitals. This bill mandates direct hiring and security of tenure for all nurses, in both the public and private sectors,” paliwanag ni Tinio.

Kabilang sa panukala ang dagdag sahod tulad ng pagkakaroon ng minimum entry-level salary na P50,000 (Salary Grade 15) para sa nurses sa public sector.

Gayundin ang pagkakaroon ng ligtas na nurse-to-patient ratios, tulad ng 1:6 para sa maayos na sitwasyon sa general wards at 1:1 sa intensive care units. Layon nitong maresolba ang naging kaugalian na isang nurse na mag-aruga sa 40 hanggang 60 pasyente.

Sinabi ni Tinio na mahigit sa 316,000 Filipino nurses ang nag-abroad, habang nasa 124,999 ang unemployed, underemployed, o umalis sa nasabing propesyon. Sa mga employed locally, 106,694 ang nasa private hospitals na tumatanggap ng minimum wage.

“It is unjust that the nurses who cared for us during the pandemic continue to be paid wages that cannot sustain a family. It is time to recognize their sacrifice and provide true justice,” dagdag ni Tinio.

(Vina de Guzman)