Clinics buck gov’t ban on physicals for ME-bound OFWs

At least 100,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) may not be able to leave for jobs in the Middle East if the Philippine government prevents private clinics from providing medical tests for them, the Gulf Cooperation Countries Approved Medical Centers Association (GAMCA) warned yesterday.

“The deployment to Saudi Arabia, which is the largest market for Filipino labor at 100,000 new hires each year, will be seriously dislocated if GAMCA clinics are stopped by the government from operating, as these are the only clinics recognized by the Saudi Embassy, together with the GAMCA seal in processing visa applications to the Kingdom,” GAMCA chairman Dr. Pedrito de Guzman said.

De Guzman said the Philippine government and even local courts cannot restrain the implementation of the “referral decking system” since this is a sovereign prerogative of the Gulf states.

Local recruitment industry and migrant groups are strongly protesting what they described as tedious procedures imposed on OFWs who are taking medical exams prior to their deployment to the Middle East.

De Guzman said the GAMCA was created upon an agreement with Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and Oman Health Ministries Council for the purpose of examining all working-visa applicants to the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Countries) states.

The GAMCA seal is required for all visa applications, along with their medical certificates.

The Department of Health has already revoked Administrative Order 5 as of 2001, which suspended the “decking system” because it neither has the mandate nor the authority to supervise, regulate or administer the GAMCA.

De Guzman said GAMCA fees have remained steady since 1994 with the minimum fee for Phase I and II exams pegged at P2,580.

For other countries like Brunei, a select group of clinics accredited by the Brunei Embassy charges P4,700. For Canada, medical exams can reach as much as P6,000.

He added that there are also GAMCA clinics operating in the cities of Cebu and Davao while the GCC health group is preparing to accredit additional clinics in the cities of Zamboanga and Cagayan de Oro.