BPO sector growth fuels rising nurse demand, offering competitive pay and opportunities in patient care and clinical trials.
The Philippine healthcare business process outsourcing (BPO) industry is rapidly expanding, employing around 200,000 healthcare professionals, including nurses.
Major U.S. healthcare companies have set up operations in the Philippines, driving demand for nurses who now have to choose between working in BPO organizations or hospitals.
BPO firms offer competitive salaries, training in foreign healthcare practices, and a safer working environment, making them a preferred option for many nurses.
Nurses in BPO handle patient care management, monitor patients remotely, assist with clinical trials, and manage pharmacovigilance, developing valuable skills for future overseas opportunities.
Philippines: A key player in healthcare BPO
The healthcare BPO market is set to reach approximately $908 billion in revenue by 2032. Asia-Pacific is projected to experience the fastest compound annual growth rate (CAGR) increase during this period, driven by its expanding healthcare infrastructure, cost-effective workforce, and increasing demand for outsourcing services.
One of the standout markets in this region is the Philippines, which boasts a skilled, English-proficient workforce, competitive labor pricing, and technological innovation. Between 2010 and 2012, Philippine healthcare BPO revenues soared from $102 million to $460 million.
In a PhilStar article, PITON-Global CEO Ralf Ellspermann highlighted that healthcare BPO providers in the country have embraced cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), robotic process automation (RPA), natural language processing (NLP), and data analysis.
This adoption has positioned Southeast Asia, particularly the Philippines, as a trailblazer in healthcare BPO innovation, further establishing the country’s reputation as a major player in the global market.
The local BPO industry projects to end 2024 with over 1.8 million jobs and $38 billion in revenue, surpassing remittances from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), which are expected to hit $34.5 billion.
Why do Filipino nurses choose BPO firms?
Filipino nurses in local healthcare facilities often receive wages below international standards. They earn the lowest salaries compared to their counterparts in neighboring Southeast Asian countries.
The BPO sector has addressed unemployment and wage challenges for nursing graduates, providing a reliable source of job opportunities while becoming a critical pillar of the nation’s economic growth.
Healthcare BPO firms offer various roles, including medical transcriptionists, billers, clinical research associates, medical coders, and healthcare secretaries.
These positions require medical expertise, making the industry a natural fit for nursing graduates and other healthcare professionals. This diversification has helped fuel the sector’s growth in the country’s booming job market.
Read more Unity Communications and BPO news on our main page.
Carpizo, A. (2023, October 21). Elevating Nurse Salaries in the Philippines: The Role of the Healthcare BPO Industry. Connext. Retrieved from https://connextglobal.com/elevating-nurse-salaries-in-the-philippines-the-role-of-the-healthcare-bpo-industry
Chanco, B. (2024, August 23). BPOs need more nurses. PhilStar Global. Retrieved from https://www.philstar.com/business/2024/08/23/2379816/bpos-need-more-nurses
Chanco, B. (2024, August 26). Keeping BPO investors happy. PhilStar Global. Retrieved from https://www.philstar.com/business/2024/08/26/2380500/keeping-bpo-investors-happy
Estrellado, V. (2024, April 19). Healthcare BPO services in the Philippines. Outsource Accelerator. Retrieved from https://www.outsourceaccelerator.com/articles/healthcare-bpo/
Philstar.com. (2023, May 9). Healthcare BPO Philippines: Revolutionizing the industry. PhilStar Global. Retrieved from https://www.philstar.com/business/biz-memos/2023/05/09/2264763/healthcare-bpo-philippines-revolutionizing-industry
Government PH. (2024, May 14). Salary Grade 2024 | Based on Salary Standardization Law. Retrieved from https://governmentph.com/salary-grade-2024/
