DON MARIANO MARCOS MEMORIAL STATE UNIVERSITY

South La Union Campus

Agoo, La Union
COLLEGE OF COMMUNITY HEALTH ALLIED AND MEDICAL SCIENCES
Bachelor Of Science in Nursing

NAME: Lydan Holt A. Dulay DATE: April 24, 2023

COURSE/YEAR/SECTION: BSN III-B SCORE:
ACTIVITY # 2.6

CRITICAL ANALYSIS ON HOUSE BILL NO. 6631

Article 1: "CHED proposes shorter nursing programs to address shortage"

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) recently proposed the creation of shorter nursing
programs as a solution to address the shortage of nurses in the Philippines. According to CHED,
the current nursing curriculum in the Philippines is too long, with a duration of four years, and is
not aligned with the needs of the healthcare industry. CHED suggests that creating shorter
nursing programs, with a duration of two to three years, will help produce more nurses who can
enter the workforce quickly and fill the gap in healthcare staffing.

While the proposal may appear to be a practical solution to address the shortage of nurses in the
Philippines, it also raises several concerns. Firstly, reducing the length of nursing programs may
compromise the quality of education that nursing students receive. Nursing is a complex and
demanding profession that requires a comprehensive and in-depth understanding of medical
knowledge, patient care, and clinical skills. Shortening the duration of nursing programs may not
provide adequate time for nursing students to acquire the necessary knowledge and skills needed
to become competent healthcare professionals.

Furthermore, shortening the duration of nursing programs may also result in the loss of
specialized training and education. Specialized nursing fields such as critical care, neonatal care,
and oncology require extensive training and education, which may not be possible with shorter
nursing programs.

Lastly, shortening the duration of nursing programs may not necessarily address the underlying
issues that contribute to the shortage of nurses in the Philippines. These issues include inadequate
 DON MARIANO MARCOS MEMORIAL STATE UNIVERSITY
South La Union Campus
Agoo, La Union
COLLEGE OF COMMUNITY HEALTH ALLIED AND MEDICAL SCIENCES
Bachelor Of Science in Nursing

healthcare infrastructure, low salaries and benefits, and the migration of Filipino nurses to other
countries due to better opportunities and working conditions.

Article 2: "Philippines proposes universal healthcare coverage expansion"

The proposed House Bill No. 6631, also known as the "Universal Healthcare Coverage
Expansion Act," aims to expand the coverage of the national health insurance program,
PhilHealth, to include all Filipinos, regardless of their socioeconomic status. The bill seeks to
address the issue of unequal access to healthcare services in the Philippines and achieve
universal healthcare coverage in the country.

While the proposed bill is a significant step towards achieving universal healthcare in the
Philippines, it also raises several concerns. Firstly, the bill lacks clarity on how it will address the
systemic issues that contribute to the gaps in healthcare coverage and access in the country.
These issues include inadequate healthcare infrastructure, uneven distribution of healthcare
resources, and the shortage of healthcare professionals, particularly in rural areas.

Furthermore, the proposed bill may face significant challenges in terms of funding and
sustainability. Expanding the coverage of PhilHealth to all Filipinos, including those who are
currently not enrolled, would require significant financial resources. However, the bill does not
provide details on how the additional funds needed to support the expanded coverage would be
generated.

Lastly, the proposed bill needs to address the issue of quality of healthcare services. While
expanding the coverage of PhilHealth may increase access to healthcare services, it does not
necessarily guarantee the provision of quality healthcare services. The bill needs to provide
concrete measures to ensure the quality of healthcare services provided to all Filipinos,
particularly the marginalized and vulnerable sectors.

In summary, both articles and the proposed legislation address important issues in the Philippine
healthcare system. However, they also raise several concerns and challenges that need to be
addressed. Any proposed solutions to address the shortage of nurses and achieve universal
healthcare coverage in the Philippines need to be accompanied by complementary policies and
 DON MARIANO MARCOS MEMORIAL STATE UNIVERSITY
South La Union Campus
Agoo, La Union
COLLEGE OF COMMUNITY HEALTH ALLIED AND MEDICAL SCIENCES
Bachelor Of Science in Nursing

initiatives that address the underlying issues of healthcare access, quality, funding, and
sustainability.