Senator Cayetano Wants to Probe Nurse Volunteer Fees and Other Exploitative Practices of RP Hospitals

Senator Pilar Juliana “Pia” Cayetano, chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, recently filed a resolution in the Senate seeking to investigate the exploitative practice of private and government hospitals in hiring new nurses as "On-the-Job" nurse trainees instead of being employed as regular staff nurses.

 

Cayetano also wants the Senate to investigate reports that hospitals, instead of compensating nurse trainees for services rendered, are collecting fees from the nurses.

In 2008, erstwhile Philippine Nurses Association President Lea Paquiz slammed this exploitative practice of Philippine hospitals. A bill prohibiting this abusive practice was subsequently filed in congress the following year but it never saw the light of day.

Recently, Pinoy R.N. published another article discussing the matter where several nurses confirmed that such scheme exists.

A copy of the Senate Resolution No. 166 was obtained by Pinoy R.N. and is posted below for reference:

Senate Resolution No. 166 - www.PinoyRN.co.nr

Related Articles from Pinoy R.N.

• PNA Slams Hospitals for Requiring Nurses to Pay Training Fees
• Nursing Shortage in the Philippines: The Real Score
• Bill Prohibiting Hospitals From Collecting Nurse Training Fees Introduced

Bill Prohibiting Hospitals from Collecting Training Fees from Nurses Introduced

A bill has been filed in the lower house of congress seeking to prohibit the collection of fees by hospitals from nurses who apply for training or volunteer work in their institutions.

House Bill 5985, introduced by Laguna 4th District Representative Edgar San Luis, also proposes a penalty of imprisonment of not more than one year and a fine of not more than P100,000 to those found guilty of exploiting nurse trainees/volunteers.

The proposed legislation further mandates hospitals to pay nurse trainees monthly salaries for services already rendered. Any fees previously collected must also be refunded, in full, to the nurse with 6% annual interest.

In a statement published at the House of Representatives' website, Rep. Edgar San Luis said, "No matter how the hospital administrators call the pernicious practice—training, skills building, volunteer work or whatever—what they are doing is plain and simple exploitation."

Dr. Lea Paquiz, in her capacity as Philippine Nurses Association (PNA) President, revealed last year that several government and private hospitals have been exploiting nurses by not filling in vacant positions instead hiring unpaid nursing trainees/volunteers while charging them so-called training fees.

Related Article:
PNA Slams Hospitals for Requiring Nurses to Pay Training Fees