August 29th, 2008 PRC negotiating mutual recognition deal for RP professionals MANILA - Officials of the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) said Friday the Philippine government was negotiating with other countries for mutual recognition arrangements for engineers, architects, nurses and accountants.
“We have to be open to these negotiations for the exchange of knowledge and experience between our professionals and the those from other countries,” PRC Commissioner Ruth Padilla said in a press briefing. Padilla said the government was working out these arrangements with Australia, New Zealand and Canada.
“There are plenty of offers from other countries, but we have to be careful in making agreements because we have to protect our professionals,” Padilla added. On Monday, Southeast Asian economic ministers signed agreements allowing accountants, dentists and doctors to work in each other's countries. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has already signed similar arrangements covering architects, surveyors, engineers and nurses. Under the pacts, ASEAN states will mutually recognize qualifications and standards covering these professionals so they can practice in any ASEAN country. The accords will also ensure that professional standards in an ASEAN state are maintained, monitored and regulated. The measures to facilitate movement of professionals within the region are part of ASEAN’s efforts toward economic integration, which include easing the flow of goods and services as well as investments.
In December 2006, ASEAN economic ministers signed a mutual recognition agreement for nurses. The signing of the agreement was expected to pave the way for the deployment of more Filipino nurses in the region. (inquirer.net)
The Philippines has found a way to keep nurses here. They have put into law the minimum salary that nurses who work for the public govt are to be paid of no less than salary grade 15. Which is around 16,000 pesos/month. This is a decent wage for a new nurse.
RA 9173: Sec. 32. Salary.-In order to enhance the general welfare, commitment to service and professionalism of nurses, the minimum base pay of nurses working in the public health institutions shall not be lower than salary grade 15 prescribed under Republic Act No. 6758
So how in the world can your country make demands on others to do things when they do not and cannot enforce rules that they have in place.
Until they open their doors for licensure for nurses from other countries, that even trained in the Philippines and are unable to get licensed there, how in the world can they expect other countries that are in ASEAN to just accept nurses from PI with no questions asked?
i reiterate my stance on those people holding a position in the Philippine government.. they are idiots! Making laws that they could not possibly enforce. Its like building a chair for burning. Its all bs especially now that the election is close by then again everybody is trying to be very hard to earn everybody's trust.
It just seems to me Ms. Suzanne, that the reason why we don't have a reciprocity for foreign graduates to be licensed in our country is because there is actually no one that I know of who would rather work here. Why would they? The equivalent of $300 a MONTH is not exactly attractive (My brother who is a US nurse earns more than that in a day). Even for my colleagues in the Philippines, and even for that amount, there are still no jobs to be had. It doesn't make any sense for ANY foreign nurse to even want to be licensed and work in the Philippines. My country has always been there for America, and if American nurses would want to be licensed and actually work in my country, Im sure the Philippine government would be more than willing to oblige. It just wouldn't make sense at all......
thats why there negotiating to discuss ways and means.
I think your right. That is why there will be negotiations before the agreement. for now, Philippine law says that only Filipinos nurses can only work in the Philippines but laws can change. just think positive everybody. :)
Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
Greetings everybody!
It just seems to me Ms. Suzanne, that the reason why we don't have a reciprocity for foreign graduates to be licensed in our country is because there is actually no one that I know of who would rather work here. Why would they? The equivalent of $300 a MONTH is not exactly attractive (My brother who is a US nurse earns more than that in a day). Even for my colleagues in the Philippines, and even for that amount, there are still no jobs to be had. It doesn't make any sense for ANY foreign nurse to even want to be licensed and work in the Philippines. My country has always been there for America, and if American nurses would want to be licensed and actually work in my country, Im sure the Philippine government would be more than willing to oblige. It just wouldn't make sense at all......
That maybe true but we do see nurses posting that they would like to go to x country to gain a different experience. It should be fair to all that if a country expects another country to accept their nurses then the same should be expected back.
That maybe true but we do see nurses posting that they would like to go to x country to gain a different experience. It should be fair to all that if a country expects another country to accept their nurses then the same should be expected back.
Actually foreign nurses are allowed to practice in the Philippines.
Sec. 21. Practice Through Special/Temporary Permit.-A special/temporary permit may be issued by the Board to the following persons subject to the approval of the Commission and upon payment of the prescribed fees:
(a) Licensed nurses from foreign countries/states whose service are either for a fee or free if they are internationally well-known specialists or outstanding experts in any branch or specialty of nursing;
(b) Licensed nurses from foreign countries/states on medical mission whose services shall be free in a particular hospital, center or clinic; and
So how in the world can your country make demands on others to do things when they do not and cannot enforce rules that they have in place.
Until they open their doors for licensure for nurses from other countries, that even trained in the Philippines and are unable to get licensed there, how in the world can they expect other countries that are in ASEAN to just accept nurses from PI with no questions asked?
It just seems to me Ms. Suzanne, that the reason why we don't have a reciprocity for foreign graduates to be licensed in our country is because there is actually no one that I know of who would rather work here. Why would they? The equivalent of $300 a MONTH is not exactly attractive (My brother who is a US nurse earns more than that in a day). Even for my colleagues in the Philippines, and even for that amount, there are still no jobs to be had. It doesn't make any sense for ANY foreign nurse to even want to be licensed and work in the Philippines. My country has always been there for America, and if American nurses would want to be licensed and actually work in my country, Im sure the Philippine government would be more than willing to oblige. It just wouldn't make sense at all......
But if you wish to go to another country to work, then it needs to go both ways; or a country is not required to accept you to get licensed there to begin with. If your country is not accepting of others, even those that went to nursing school in your country, then you cannot expect others to automatically have to accept a nurse from your country.
Things need to be corrected there first, there is no reason what so ever that close to a million students are now enrolled in nursing programs there and with a slim chance of being able to work as a nurse. There is no country that has unlimited visas for nurses and things are shrinking all over the place.
You cannot negotiate anything when things are not as they should be in your country first, and as mentioned, elections are coming up there as well.
All of the wonderful agreements that your country has arranged has been to send four year BSNs to work as care-givers in other countries, not one has been as an RN. That is something to think about as well.
To get licensed in another country, or meet their requirements to work there, you are going to need to meet their requirements. Nothing is ever automatic. Even with Canada, the nurses still have to meet the requirements for the US. Not all countries accept your license without additional work experience for licensure there, and this would still be in effect. These countries are not going to be accepting a new grad if they o not already permit it. Does not matter what your country wants to do, but when you sign for mutual recognition, then they need to accept the other nurses as well. Still do not see them doing that.
As I keep stating, everything must start at home, and this means the Philippines first.
Actually foreign nurses are allowed to practice in the Philippines.
Sec. 21. Practice Through Special/Temporary Permit.-A special/temporary permit may be issued by the Board to the following persons subject to the approval of the Commission and upon payment of the prescribed fees:
(a) Licensed nurses from foreign countries/states whose service are either for a fee or free if they are internationally well-known specialists or outstanding experts in any branch or specialty of nursing;
(b) Licensed nurses from foreign countries/states on medical mission whose services shall be free in a particular hospital, center or clinic; and
Provided, however, That the special/temporary permit shall be effective only for the duration of the project, medical mission or employment contract.
Read again, this is for specialists only. And not for working in your hospitals, but for doing other types of work where an actual license is not even required.
Notice that it is for medical missions or for teaching, or special research projects. These nurses are not granted a license in the Philippines, and that is what we are speaking of here.
The still do not get a license issued by the PRC and that is what is going to be needed.
The above holds true in almost every other country, it is quite routine. The issue is being able to write the NLE and be granted a license from the PRC to practice there anywhere.
Graduates of programs in your country by foreign nationals are not permitted to sit for the NLE exam and therefore get licensed there. That would be the first step that needs to be changed.
One cannot expect another country to automatically accept them when they will not accept a nurse from that country.
griffon
33 Posts
The Philippines has found a way to keep nurses here. They have put into law the minimum salary that nurses who work for the public govt are to be paid of no less than salary grade 15. Which is around 16,000 pesos/month. This is a decent wage for a new nurse.
RA 9173: Sec. 32. Salary.-In order to enhance the general welfare, commitment to service and professionalism of nurses, the minimum base pay of nurses working in the public health institutions shall not be lower than salary grade 15 prescribed under Republic Act No. 6758
The problem is they don't enforce it.