The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) is now pushing for a strengthened local nursing workforce through its national direction for nursing education.
This comes after CHED launched the Philippine Nursing Education Roadmap (PNER) 2030 during its National Directorate Meeting on Thursday.
The PNER 2030 refers to the “strategic, evidence-informed framework” which seeks to guide the transformation of nursing education in the Philippines.
The commission on Friday said the framework, developed by the University of Santo Tomas (UST), seeks to respond to the emerging changes in healthcare needs, workforce demands, technological advancements, and the need to boost the global competitiveness of Filipino nurses.
In a separate speech, CHED chairperson Shirley Agrupis said the framework must not only equip future Filipino nurses for global demands but also to boost the country’s healthcare sector.
“The Philippines has long been recognized for producing skilled and competent nurses who serve both here and abroad. However, we continue to face a significant shortage in our own healthcare system,” she said.
As of 2025, the country has about 127,000 to 190,000 supply gaps for nurses in the Philippines, according to the roadmap.
If the current trend continues, potential gaps may hit 250,000 by 2030.
“We want to continue preparing our nurses for international opportunities through quality education and professional development, while also strengthening our own healthcare workforce. These priorities must go together.”
To realize these priorities, Agrupis noted that the national direction under the PNER 2030 must be embedded in the curriculum and programs across higher education institutions (HEIs) nationwide.
“We need to see these directions reflected in our nursing curricula, faculty development programs, institutional support, and, ultimately, in the preparation of our future nurses.”
The CHED chief also mentioned close coordination with other government agencies to ensure that the PNER 2030 recommendations will be translated to policies, programs, and “measurable” improvements.
“This means working closely with the Department of Health, the Professional Regulation Commission and its Board of Nursing, our HEIs, and healthcare partners,” Agrupis said.
In particular, the PNER 2030 covers improvement on competency-based education, simulation and clinical training, digital skills, advanced practice nursing, research, leadership, and continuing professional development.
These go under two complementary pathways, including the BS Nursing Roadmap and the Post-Graduate Nursing Roadmap.
To date, there are 434 HEIs offering BS Nursing programs in the Philippines. (PNA)
