By Beatriz Marie D. Cruz, Reporter
DEVELOPING a virtual nursing industry will depend on upgrades to digital infrastructure and sufficiently attractive pay that can offer workers of a viable option to emigrating, according to Worldwide Resource Solutions (WWRS), Inc., a Manila-based healthcare outsourcing firm.
“If you look at the US market right now, there’s a potential of $40 billion for virtual nursing alone. So, just to get a chunk of that business would really provide jobs for a lot of people and help the economy,” WWRS Managing Director Rosita Lara Lumagui told BusinessWorld.
Worldwide HealthStaff Solutions Ltd., a US medical solutions company, is banking on the Philippines’ strong outsourcing industry and large number of healthcare graduates in expanding virtual nursing services here.
Last month, WWRS launched its virtual nursing hub in Bridgetowne, Quezon City, which allows healthcare workers to care for patients in US hospitals while being based here.
The Philippines itself is grappling with a shortage of 127,000 nurses, which could grow to 250,000 by 2030, the World Health Organization said.
“The Philippine government should strengthen the country’s position as a global leader in outsourced healthcare — particularly in virtual nursing,” Ms. Lumagui said.
She cited the need for national certification programs and government-funded scholarships or training subsidies for virtual healthcare roles.
To support critical telehealth facilities like data centers and secure cloud platforms, the government must improve its digital infrastructure and security standards, she noted. It should also ensure fair wages and safe working conditions for virtual healthcare workers.
“Once they know that we have the capability to do this in the Philippines, then others will follow suit,” Ms. Lumagui said.
The market for health information management services (HIMS), one of the fastest-growing segments in the knowledge process outsourcing industry, is valued at about $4 billion, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) estimates.
According to Ms. Lumagui, virtual nursing roles typically require a license to practice nursing in the Philippines or the US, depending on client requirements.
On the other hand, a nursing license is not required for virtual sitters, but they must have at least two years of healthcare experience.
Using video technology, WWRS staff are trained to monitor up to 15 patients, communicating patient needs with bedside staff.
While their employees are paid in pesos, salaries are “adjusted upward to reflect the responsibilities of working within a US clinical framework,” WWRS said.
“For this year, what we (plan to) put in place at least 590 (virtual sitters/nurses,)” Ms. Lumagui said. “But probably (by) 2026, we would need more depending on the market.”
As virtual nursing expands in the Philippines, Ms. Lumagui is counting on healthcare workers staying in the country for long haul, with a living wage that can support family life expected to be attractive to those who would rather not emigrate.