MANILA — The Philippines could face a shortage of up to 250,000 nurses by 2030 if current workforce trends persist, according to projections presented by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).
CHED Chairperson Shirley Agrupis said the country’s estimated nursing workforce deficit ranged from 127,000 to 190,000 in 2025, underscoring the need for reforms in nursing education and stronger efforts to retain healthcare professionals.
The projections were presented in connection with the Philippine Nursing Education Roadmap (PNER) 2030, launched on November 5, 2026, to improve nursing education and align graduates’ skills with the evolving needs of the healthcare sector.
Despite the Philippines’ reputation as a major source of skilled nurses working locally and overseas, the country continues to face shortages that affect healthcare delivery, particularly in underserved communities.
The roadmap identifies key areas for improvement, including nursing curricula, clinical training, faculty development, student well-being, institutional resources, and research capacity.
It also promotes competency-based education, simulation training, digital healthcare skills, and advanced nursing practice to better prepare graduates for modern healthcare environments.
CHED reported that 434 higher education institutions nationwide currently offer Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs.
Developed through a collaboration between CHED’s Technical Panel for Nursing and the University of Santo Tomas College of Nursing, PNER 2030 seeks to strengthen the quality of nursing education while responding to emerging workforce demands.
The commission also emphasized the importance of balancing international employment opportunities for Filipino nurses with the need to maintain an adequate healthcare workforce within the country.
While the projected shortage of 250,000 nurses is not a definite outcome, CHED warned that the workforce gap could widen unless existing trends are addressed.
Strengthening local employment opportunities, improving clinical training, and retaining qualified nurses are among the measures needed to ensure accessible and sustainable healthcare services for Filipinos.
