Philippines, Austria revive health care cooperation

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines and Austria have revived bilateral cooperation in the field of health care, deploying a new batch of Filipino nurses to the European nation after the first large-scale deployment of health workers decades ago.

The Philippine embassy in Vienna, led by Chargé d’Affaires Susan Irene Natividad, welcomed the newest batch of Filipino health care professionals to Austria.

Post-arrival orientation seminar was conducted to inform the newly arrived nurses on their rights, privileges and responsibilities as migrant workers and to help ease their integration in Austria.

The nurses left for Stadl Paura, Upper Austria soon after, to begin their employment.

“This pilot deployment is an outcome of ongoing bilateral labor talks between the PH Government and the Federal Economic Chamber of Austria and the Vienna Social Fund,” the embassy said in a statement.

The Philippines and Austria are working toward an ethical and transparent framework that will facilitate deployment of Filipino health care professionals to Austria.

“The embassy, together with POLO Milan, looks forward to seeing this initiative through completion, with the conclusion of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Philippines and Austria by the first quarter of 2023,” the embassy said.
Expanded nursing practice

Meanwhile, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) expressed support for the swift passage of Senate Bill No. 1447, the Philippine Nursing Practice Act of 2022, which seeks to expand the roles of qualified nurses, ensure their decent working conditions and promote professional growth.

“More than two years into the COVID-19 pandemic, the country at large witnessed how essential the health sector is in responding to crises and buoying our national economy. Nurses, in particular, faced multitudes of occupational risks due to lack of appropriate protective gear and equipment, shortage of staff members, and even discrimination, among many others,” the CHR said.

“Their resolute service to the Filipino people is deserving not only of recognition, but amplification of their dignity and worth through government protection and action,” it added.

The Commission issued the statement following the filing of SB No. 1447 with Sen. Francis Tolentino as its main proponent.

The proposed measure introduces a provision on Advanced Practice Nurse (APN), an expanded and more collaborative role for qualified nurses, with the goal of providing all Filipinos a more efficient access to Universal Health Care.

Based on the proposed bill, APNs are nurses, who, aside from being board passers, have acquired a “substantial level of theoretical knowledge and decision-making skill in a specialty area of nursing practice and demonstrated proficiency in clinical utilization of such knowledge” from a recognized higher educational institution. – With Elizabeth Marcelo
 

The bill also authorizes the practice of “Agreed Upon Based Care,” in which, APNs — through mutual agreement with and approval by the primary physician in charge — are permitted to conduct patient care through teleconsultation or other means of communication during emergency circumstances such as unavailability of a physician or lack of a physician due to the inaccessibility of an area.

The bill also includes a provision on the creation of Philippine Professional Nursing Roadmap, which would establish a long-term strategy for the Philippine nursing industry.

Meanwhile, the CHR also welcomed President Marcos’ pronouncement that his office is “always open for meaningful dialogue to address the issues concerning our nurses and allied health care professionals.”