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),

 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.

 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.

 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.

THANK YOU!