Saudi Arabia praises Pinoy healthcare workers’ professionalism

MANILA – Saudi Arabia is all praises for Filipino healthcare workers in the country for their “excellence” and “professionalism”.

This was the remark made by Presidential Assistant on Foreign Affairs (PAFA) and Special Envoy to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) Robert Borje as more countries are seeking for exemptions on the deployment cap on Filipino medical professionals, particularly nurses.

Borje said Saudi Arabia has yet to request for an exemption of the cap similar to what has been granted to the United Kingdom (UK).

He noted that KSA is aware that the Philippines also needed their healthcare workers to boost the country’s workforce amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

“The Saudi government has reaffirmed magaling ang ating mga healthcare professionals (our healthcare professionals are good). I think they also understand that we also need our healthcare workers. There has been no formal request yet but in so far as recognition of what Filipino healthcare professionals can do and can contribute to Saudi Arabia, that has been a resounding yes,” he said in a virtual presser organized by the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO).

Borje said Saudi Arabia also acknowledged that Filipino healthcare workers have played a huge part in caring for the health and welfare of their people.

“Ang sabi nila is magaling talaga ang healthcare professionals ng Pilipino (They said that Filipino healthcare professionals are great) and they’re depending on our healthcare workers for their excellence and professionalism,” he added.

Earlier, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) increased the annual cap on the deployment of healthcare workers abroad from 5,000 to 6,500.

The IATF-EID said the cap was needed due to the demand for healthcare workers abroad amid the health crisis.

Besides UK, more countries have reportedly requested an increase in the deployment of healthcare workers.