Nurses wages
The health workers from different hospitals, health clinics and institutions are committed to serve the Filipino patients amidst a low health budget, under staffing, inadequate equipment and facilities, and inadequate salaries and benefits. Even as we pledge to serve our countrymen, we the face the harsh realities of worsening economic conditions, the increasing cost of basic commodities, as we try to make do with our inadequate salaries and benefits.
A health worker in salary grade 1 in a public hospital earns only P 7,575/month. Nurses who are supposed to be given at least P 24,887 (salary grade 15) based on Nursing Act of 2002 receive only P 17,099 (salary grade 11). Doctors in salary grade 16 (MO 1) get P 24,423. These are both below minimum cost of living almost P30, 000 set by the government. Job Orders and contractual nurses receive lower salaries and do not get benefits. One province of Luzon (Philippines), two casual nurses work under the item of a utility worker, dividing for them the amount of P160-170/day. Volunteers, who are actually registered nurses, work for free, and even pay the hospital for their “experience”.
Nurses take care of the patients. But who will take care of the nurses?
Some other professionals like teachers and Policeman can live to their means, for nurses in the Philippines less likely to get a decent wages. Who will then to blame?....
Justice...!
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