To address the impending shortage of healthcare professionals in the Philippines, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) is finalizing a three-year master plan designed to bolster graduates entering the medical field, with the plan scheduled for presentation to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Wednesday.

In an interview on Tuesday, CHED Chairperson J. Prospero de Vera III revealed the Commission is actively preparing the three-year intervention plan which will include initiatives to incentivize professionals who would opt to work domestically.

The Private Sectoral Advisory Council (PSAC) has earlier identified critical health programs such as physical therapy, medical technology, radiologic technology, and occupational therapy, among others, where shortages of healthcare practitioners are anticipated in the near future, he said.

“Based on reports from hospitals and industry sources, there are clear signs of an impending shortage,” De Vera stated. “We are closely analyzing the supply and demand dynamics in these fields, and there remains a noticeable gap.”

The commission is also considering implementing mandatory return service for graduates of public universities and colleges.

“Kung scholar ng gobyerno, you can impose a return service, because if their studies are funded by the government, you can require them,” the CHED chief said.

De Vera elaborated on the situation of nurses, noting that 51% of registered nurses practice abroad, leaving only 49% in the Philippines, with not all currently practicing. 

He further explained that out of this 49%, approximately 25% are employed in hospitals, while others are working in call centers, attracted by higher salaries and the applicability of their nursing background in medical transcription.

For nurses, De Vera announced plans to provide fully funded review classes to encourage 500 nursing graduates to take the Philippine Nurses Licensure Examination.

Earlier this year, the Department of Health (DOH) emphasized the need for 190,000 additional healthcare workers to address existing gaps in the healthcare system.