The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) said that nursing graduates who flunked the Philippine Nurse Licensure Examination (PNLE) cannot be given temporary or special licenses to work in government-owned hospitals.
In a radio interview, PRC Commissioner Jose Cueto Jr. said that there is no law that allows the issuance of special licenses to non-board passers.
"Ang nabasa ko sa announcement ni Secretary Herbosa, they will be under the supervision of registered and licensed nurses, so they are not allowed to independently practice the profession of nursing," he said.
On Monday, Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Teodoro Herbosa proposed hiring nursing board flunkers in government hospitals to address shortage of health workers in the country.
Herbosa said non-board passers with a 70–74 percent rating will be given four years to pass the board exam.
Nursing graduates will be required to sign a four-year return service agreement and work at government hospitals after passing the board exam and before they can work abroad.
But Cueto emphasized that Section 21 in Republic Act No. 9173 only allows special or temporary permits only for licensed nurses from other countries.
"Progression of responsibilities is allowed even for those who passed the licensure exams," he said.
He stated that the Departments of Health, Labor, and Employment and the PRC will be required to develop a concept paper for the implementation of the DOH Secretary's proposal.
