Optum Philippines, a technology and data-enabled care delivery company, has introduced several programs to tackle the ongoing nursing shortage in the country, known as the “Nursing Crunch.”
This shortage of nurses has been highlighted by the Department of Health, which estimates that it could take up to 12 years to fill the current gap in the nursing workforce, and even longer for doctors. The Nursing Crunch presents significant challenges for the global healthcare system, straining resources and affecting patient care.
“Through comprehensive training programs made available to all and for our employees, competitive benefits, and a culture of growth and excellence, we aim to empower nurses to thrive in their careers and deliver the highest quality of care to our communities,” said Ivic Mueco, managing director, Optum Philippines.
Suitable opportunities
At the Solving the Nursing Crunch C-Suite Forum, organized by Optum Philippines and the IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP), the ongoing shortage of nurses in the Philippines was a central topic. Despite the country being one of the world’s leading sources of nursing talent, many licensed nurses are not practicing due to a lack of suitable job opportunities.
Financial challenges and program incompatibility were identified as key factors contributing to the dropout rate among nursing students. To address this, Optum Philippines launched the RN Ready Plus program, offering free, self-paced classes to enhance clinical knowledge and help nurses meet the requirements of Republic Act No. 10912, also known as the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Act of 2016.
Optum introduced the Optum Health Education Global online learning platform, designed to strengthen the global healthcare workforce by providing accessible, accredited courses. Through these initiatives, Optum aims to improve local clinical education, upskill healthcare professionals, and ultimately reduce the cost of maintaining professional licenses, contributing to long-term sustainability in the sector.