DOLE urges OFWs to undergo proper medical screening to avoid deportation

MANILA—The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) reminded Filipino workers who will be working abroad to secure proper medical screening to avoid deportation due to various health issues.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III issued the reminder after 400 guest workers were ordered deported by the Jordan Health Ministry for having health problems.

“It is imperative for our workers to undergo a thorough medical check-up or screening by Department of Health (DOH)-accredited hospitals and clinics before they leave the country to avoid being deported due to some health restrictions. Some countries abroad are very particular when it comes to health issues,” he said in a statement.

With this, Bello cited the advisory released by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) on a Jordan health ministry report from January to November 2016 indicating 185 cases of hepatitis B, 149 cases of tuberculosis, and 66 cases of HIV/AIDS were recorded among foreign workers.

It also recorded a total of 356,045 guest workers at the directorate for medical check-up, and 457 of them were diagnosed with hepatitis B, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS.

In addition, some 14,633 Filipino workers have also undergone medical examinations, and 35 of them have been found to have tuberculosis while 27 workers are suffering from Hepatitis B.

The report did not indicate the number of OFWs who were deported, but as a policy, workers with HIV/AIDS and pulmonary tuberculosis are expelled while those with extra-pulmonary tuberculosis, but does not affect the pulmonary system, are not expatriated.

A Filipino worker who is applying for an overseas job is required to undergo a medical screening on referred clinics and hospitals before they can proceed to the subsequent process.

This ensures that a worker is healthy and fit to work should they be qualified for the job position they are applying for as they land on their respective country of assignment.

Meanwhile, the POEA urged overseas job applicants to have their medical tests at clinics and hospitals duly accredited by the Department of Health.