DOH LAUNCHES ‘RN HEALS’ PROJECT TO DEPLOY NURSES

TO POOR COMMUNITIES

Press Release/12 January 2011

The Department of Health (DOH) today announced that

applications can be filed starting next week, January 17, for its
project where unemployed nurses will be deployed to poor
communities in the country.

“The project, billed RN HEALS, seeks to make essential health

services available to all Filipinos by training and deploying 10,000
unemployed nurses in communities to be identified by the DOH in
collaboration with the Department of Social Welfare &
Development (DSWD),” Health Secretary Enrique Ona said.

RN HEALS, an acronym for Registered Nurses for Health

Enhancement And Local Service, is expected to address the
shortage of skilled and experienced nurses in 1,221 rural and
unserved or underserved communities for one year.

They will undergo learning and development in accordance with

the roles and functions required by the project. A certificate of
competency and employment will be given by the DOH, DSWD,
and the Professional Regulation Commission to those who have
satisfactorily completed their requirements.

While on deployment, the nurses will be given an allowance of

P8,000 a month by the DOH while the local government unit
(LGU) where they are assigned shall supervise them, ensure their
safety and security, and provide modest board and lodging.
Likewise, LGUs are encouraged to provide additional allowances
and benefits worth at least P2,000 for these nurses.

PhilHealth and the Government Service Insurance System will

provide group insurance to the nurses while private corporations
are encouraged to chip in through their available resources.
The recruitment and selection of these nurses shall be under the
Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) through its
Regional Offices.

Registered nurses who are physically and mentally fit, and willing
to serve in their municipalities may apply online at the DOLE
website (http://www.dole.gov.ph/) from January 17 to February
4 this year. Preference will be given to residents of the
municipalities covered by the Health Facilities Enhancement
Program of DOH and Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or the
Conditional Cash Transfer of the DSWD.

The list of successful applicants with their area of assignments

shall be posted online at the DOLE website from February 7-10.
An orientation shall be held on February 11-12 in their provincial
centers of assignment by the regional DOH, DSWD, Professional
Regulation Commission – Board of Nursing and the Philippine
Nurses Association prior to deployment.

“Eventually, these nurses will be part of the pool of competent

nurses for later employment or absorption in health facilities, thus
addressing the inadequate supply of skilled nurses and increasing
the nurses’ employment rate,” the health chief concluded.