Philippine higher education institutions (HEIs) and hospital groups will put together an innovative and customized review program to help underboard nursing graduates and current Clinical Care Associates (CCAs) employed in hospitals to develop the skills and proficiency necessary in passing the Nurse Licensure Examination (NLE).
This is after representatives from 19 HEIs, 4 groups of private hospitals (Healthway Philippines, Metro Pacific Hospitals, Mt. Grace Hospitals, and Private Hospital Association of the Philippines) and 7 public hospitals signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the implementation of Joint CHED-DOH Administrative Order 2023-0001.
CHED Chairman Popoy De Vera, Department of Health (DOH) Undersecretary Kenneth Ronquillo, Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) Healthcare Lead Paolo Maximo Borromeo, and President of Private Hospital Association of the Philippines, Dr. Jose Rene De Grano also signed the MOU as witnesses.
“The Clinical Care Associate upskilling program gives the opportunity to underboard nursing graduates to attend tutorials or review classes so that they have a better chance of passing the board exam.”
“The Clinical Care Associate upskilling program, formalized through Joint CHED-DOH Administrative Order 2023-0001 and the memorandum of understanding signed today, is a groundbreaking endeavor as it helps address the lack of health care workers in the country and give opportunity to underboard nursing graduates to attend tutorials or review classes so that they have a better chance of passing the board exam,” President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said.
“Today we mark the next milestone in the realization of President Marcos’ directive to address the continuing need to improve the health manpower needed for the implementation of the Universal Health Care law,” De Vera stressed.
Under the JAO, underboard nursing graduates will undergo an upskilling program that will capacitate them to serve as CCAs in public and private hospitals, to complement the current number of registered nurses, and also help them pass the Nurse Licensure Examination NLE.
The MOU signing will jumpstart this upskilling of current CCAs and underboard nursing graduates through a comprehensive nursing review program that will be delivered by the premiere HEIs.
The selected HEIs will be organizing and putting together an innovative and customized review program that will be responsive to the needs of the CCAs from various hospitals who will undergo the reskilling process.
This strategic initiative is among the short-term, medium-term, and long-term solutions undertaken, as instructed in the SONA report of Marcos, to address healthcare workforce concerns of the country.
Moreover, the President is also taking a look at other health professions that also need attention and intervention such as Medical Technologists, Pharmacists, Radiologic Technologists, and Physical Therapists.
CHED will actively work with DOH, PSAC, and other stakeholders in producing qualified and globally competitive Human Resources for Health (HRH) that will contribute to the attainment of Universal Health Care.
“The Commission commits to working with other government agencies and PSAC to implement all the other strategic interventions that the President approved in a whole-of-government and whole-of-nation approach.”
“The Commission commits to working with other government agencies and PSAC to implement all the other strategic interventions that the President approved in a whole-of-government and whole-of-nation approach,” De Vera stressed.
The ceremonial signing was also attended by the Members of the PSAC for the Healthcare Sector, Presidents, and Heads of the Delivering HEIs, DOH Hospitals and Private Hospital Associations of the Philippines.
