Quezon Representative Angelina “Helen” Tan. Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to lift the moratorium on the opening of new programs in nursing in light of the shortage of nurses in the country and the world.

Tan, a registered nurse before becoming a medical professional, has also urged the leadership of the House of Representatives to revisit the moratorium as contained in CHED Memorandum Order No. 32, which was issued in 2010.

CHED imposed the moratorium on the opening of all undergraduate and graduate programs on nursing and four (4) other courses effective school year 2011-2012 because of the proliferation of colleges offering undergraduate and graduate programs and due to a gradual decline in the graduates, which indicates the worsening state of the program.

“Even before the Covid-19 pandemic, a global shortage of nurses was already projected,” Tan said.

This was highlighted in a World Health Organization report which calls for urgent investment in nursing as the COVID-19 pandemic puts need for nurses into sharp relief.

According to Tan that the role of nurses in health care system cannot be over emphasized, not only in delivering quality health care but as well as in achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

She further stressed that pre-COVID-19 pandemic data reveals that the universal health coverage and SDG targets.

The WHO report, “States of the World’s Nursing 2020”, projects that without action, there will be a shortfall of 4.5 million nurses worldwide 2030.

In the Philippines, the projected shortfall of nurses is expected to be 249,843 by 2030, unless greater investment is made now to retain them in the Philippine health sector.