A nurse prepares medecine at a hospital in Manila. (Nicolas Asfouir/AFP) In an interview over DZBB, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the DOH is currently in talks with the Philippine Nursing Association (PNA). “We’re having a challenge right now kasi yung uptake din po ng ating hiring ay medyo mabagal (because the uptake of our hiring is a bit slow) pero kami po ay nakikipag-usap na sa mga (but we’re already talking to) societies at universities so that we can get some more health workers,” Vergeire said Thursday, April 29. “Ang isa nga pong aksyon na ginawa talaga pinag-uusapan if we can, with the Philippine Nursing Association, kung pwedeng i-move yung mga board exam na isasagawa na na-delay ata, na mas maaga para makakuha pa tayo ng additional cadres dito po sa ating mga ospital (One of the actions that is being taken is if we can, with the Philippine Nursing Association, move the board exams, which has been delayed, at an earlier date so that we can get additional cadres here in our hospitals),” she added.