President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has committed to expand the country’s medical and nursing education programs to help address the shortage of healthcare workers in the country due to migration.

“To address the current shortage of healthcare professionals in our country, and to help us achieve our goal of universal healthcare, we are greatly expanding our medical and nursing education programs,” the President said in his second State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City on Monday.

We will push the envelope even further. We are helping nursing graduates hurdle their board exams, so that they will obtain their licenses and join our pool of healthcare professionals,” added.

President Marcos earlier lamented the exodus of healthcare professionals saying that the Philippines has become a “victim” of its own success as many countries are wanting to hire Filipino nurses due to their professionalism, compassion, and dedication to work.

According to the Department of Health (DOH), the country lacks some 194,000 health professionals, citing low salary as among the reasons why nurses opt to work abroad.

The Chief Executive said the administration will focus on building healthier communities for Filipinos especially after the challenges posed by the pandemic in the health sector.

“Ang kalusugan ang ikalawang armas: para sa lakas ng pangangatawan ng bawat Pilipino. Isinu-sulong nating muli ang kalusugan ng Pilipino,” he said.

“We are now refocusing our health priorities, applying the lessons learnt from the pandemic and addressing the weaknesses that it has exposed. Healthier communities and lifestyles are our advocacy,” he added. | PND