PNA's position: NO TO VOLUNTEERISM-FOR-A-FEE!

UPHOLD FILIPINO NURSES’ RIGHT TO DECENT

AND HUMANE WORK CONDITION

NO TO VOLUNTEERISM FOR A FEE!

Statement of the Philippine Nurses’ Association 

during the Press Conference held in PNA National Office, January 14, 2011

The Philippine Nurses Association (PNA) vehemently opposed the unfair labor practice of many hospitals known as “volunteerism for a fee” where nurses are asked to pay thousands of pesos in exchange of  volunteering for months without salaries and benefits, and without employee-employer relationship. Hence, no legal protection for the volunteer nurses. Worst, some hospitals cover themselves from any legal problems by calling their scheme as “training program”.

It is a very clear unfair labor practice on two grounds: (1) Registered Nurses who passed the Nurse Licensure Examinations (NLE) have passed through a 4-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) curriculum that have provided them the necessary skills and knowledge to perform regular nursing functions in the hospital Therefore, undergoing a “volunteerism for a fee” as form of training is NOT A PRE-REQUISITE FOR HIRING! Volunteerism for a fee is different from the accredited training programs approved by the Board of Nursing – PRC which is conducted by PRC-accredited Training Provider. (2) Registered nurses doing volunteer work concretely augment the deficit of nursing staff in many hospitals wherein the standard 1:10 nurse-patient ratio is not met. The presence of volunteer-nurses make hospitals meet the regular staffing requirement without having to pay salaries to the nurses. In fact, they are made to pay to provide such nursing services, giving the hospital additional revenue.

PNA demands the government to ban the practice of volunteerism-for-a-fee and to prosecute the hospitals performing this unfair labor practice! Calling the nurses as “willing victims” because of worsening unemployment problem in the nursing sector is an outright victim-blaming attitude! Let us protect these nurses who are taking care of the lives of many sick and dying people! The PNA believes that concrete SOLUTIONS must be done instead of blaming the nurse-victims.

1. The government must immediately fill-up vacant plantilla positions in many government hospitals to ensure quality nursing care.

2. The government must have the political will to create plantilla positions for nurses following the standard nurse-patient ratio especially in the rural areas where millions of poor children, women, elderly and other marginalized sectors are wanting to have access to basic and essential health care services. Being the largest sector of health providers, the role of nurses in the realization of Universal Health Care must be recognized and valued!

3. Contractualization of nurses, Job-orders and “sharing in plantilla positions” must not be allowed by the government to happen in any government or private hospital.

4. The Department of Health (DOH) and Department of Labor & Employment (DOLE) to regularly monitor hospitals and ensure that Training Programs for Nurses in the hospitals is conducted ONLY by BON-PRC accredited Training Provider/Hospitals with corresponding Certificates.

Putting an end into this “volunteerism for a fee” will not only provide better nursing opportunities for the Filipino nurses but will be a guarantee measure that Filipino people will be provided with quality nursing care!

PNA’s WIN-WIN SOLUTION To address “Volunteerism-for-a-Fee”

TERESITA IRIGO-BARCELO, PhD, RN (Sgd)
National President
Mobile Number: 09159111411

DOLE-PRC-BON Position Statement on Volunteerism of unemployed nurses

DOH Memorandum No. 2011-0262: Elucidating the Conditions of DOH Memorandum 2011-0238

Republic of the Philippines
Department of Health
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY

OCT 04, 2011

DEPARTMENT MEMORANDUM
No. 2011-0262


FOR: ALL UNDERSECRETARIES; ASSISTANT SECRETARIES; DIRECTORS OF THE CENTERS FOR HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT, CHIEFS OF MEDICAL CENTERS AND HOSPITALS, AND OTHERS CONCERNED 

SUBJECT: Elucidating the Conditions Fundamental to Department Memorandum 2011-0238 or the Termination of  all “Nurse Volunteer Programs”, “Volunteer Training Programs for Nurses” and all similar or related programs, in all DOH-retained hospitals.

For all purposes, it is the bona fide intention of Department Memorandum 2011-0238 re: Termination of  all “Nurse Volunteer Programs”, “Volunteer Training Programs for Nurses” and all similar or related programs, in all DOH-retained hospitals, to put an end to the scheme of some DOH Hospitals accepting nurse volunteers in the guise of training for a fee.

Concerned DOH Hospitals therefore are instructed to submit to the Internal Finance and Administration Technical Cluster (IFATC) through the Health Human Resource Development Bureau (HHRDB) existing training programs and report the period of completion. Further, no new programs shall be instituted until such time that the training programs are approved by the DOH and acredited by the Professional Regulation Commission - Board of Nursing Continuing Professional Education Council

For your guidance and compliance.

ENRIQUE T. ONA, MD
Secretary    

DOH Memorandum No. 2011-0238: STOP making nurses work WITHOUT SALARIES!

Republic of the Philippines

Department of Health

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY

DEPARTMENT MEMORANDUM
No. 2011-0238

FOR: ALL UNDERSECRETARIES, ASSISTANT SECRETARIES, CENTERS FOR HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT, SERVICES AND SPECIALTY HOSPITALS, CHIEFS OF MEDICAL CENTERS AND HOSPITALS 

SUBJECT: Termination of  all “Nurse Volunteer Programs”, “Volunteer Training Programs for Nurses” and all similar or related programs, in all DOH-retained hospitals.

DATE: August 22, 2011

Republic Act 9418 (Volunteer Act of 2007) defines "Volunteerism" as an act involving a wide range of activities, including traditional forms of mutual aid and developmental interventions that provides an enabling and empowering environment both on the part of the beneficiary receiving, and the volunteer rendering the act, undertaken for reasons arising from socio-developmental, business or corporate orientation, commitment or conviction for the attainment of the public good and where monetary and other incentives or reward are not the primary motivating factors. Likewise, it defines a "Volunteer" as an individual or group who for reasons arising from their socio-developmental, business and corporate orientation, commitment or conviction, contribute time, service and resources whether on full-time or part time basis to a just and essential social development cause, mission or endeavor in the belief that their activity is mutually meaningful and beneficial to public interest as well as to themselves.

The current practice of registered nurses “volunteering” in hospitals to gain ‘work experience’ and/or to obtain a certificate of work experience and for purposes of meeting requirements for employment abroad, is not consistent with the provisions of this law (Republic Act 9418: Volunteer Act of 2007).”
In addition, many hospitals have implemented “nurse volunteerism” in the guise of “training programs” in order to justify the collection of “training fees”, whereby such basic skills training put no added value to the professional career of the nurses.

Therefore, all DOH hospitals are hereby directed to discontinue all existing programs involving nurses who deliver free services in exchange for work experience/volunteer nurses, volunteer trainings, and all other similar programs. All hospitals-based trainings for nurses should follow a definite career progression to be defined and accredited by the DOH and Professional Regulatory Commision-Board of Nursing.

For compliance.

ENRIQUE T. ONA, MD, FPCS, FACS

Secretary of Health