Philippines, which has highest number of cases in Asia, has relaxed a ban on deploying its health care workers overseas
The Philippines has offered to let thousands of its health care workers, mostly nurses, take up jobs in Britain and Germany if the two countries donate them Coronavirus (COVD-19) vaccines.
Philippines, which has highest number of cases in Asia, has relaxed a ban on deploying its health care workers overseas. The nurses are among the millions of Filipinos who work overseas, providing more than U.S. $ 30 billion a year in remittances to the economy.
The Filipino nurses have fought to lift the deployment ban to escape poor working conditions and low pay at home. The only condition imposed by Philippines is that only 5,000 medical professionals leave the country in a year.
The request to Germany and Britain was made by Department of Labour and Employment (DOLE) Secretary – Silvestre Bello III.
Speaking on the occasion, the Director for International Labour Affairs Bureau, Philippines – Alice Vesperas said, “We are considering the request to lift the deployment cap, subject to agreement.”
Alice also said, “Secretary Bello’s request is for our OFWs, these are the OFWs that were repatriated, who are here in the country including those who will be deployed. It is important, especially those who are set to leave since many countries who are hiring migrant workers want workers that have been vaccinated.”
The Health Ministry of Britain was quick to say it is not interested in any such deal. However, it did said it would supply excess vaccine in the future. Britain has 11,000 more nurses working in the National Health Service (NHS) than last year. Calls to Germany remained unanswered.
The Health Ministry Spokesperson of Britain said, “We have no plans for the UK to agree a vaccine deal with the Philippines linked to further recruitment of nurses.”
She further added, “We have confirmed that we will share any surplus vaccines in the future — for example through the COVAX international procurement pool.”
Philippines requires 148 million doses of vaccines, while Britain has ordered more than 400 million doses. Britain and Germany have inoculated 23 million people. Philippines is yet to start its campaign to immunize 70 million adults. It expects its first vaccines this week, which is donated by China.
Meanwhile, the President of U.S. – Joe Biden pledged U.S. $ 4 billion on Friday, February 19, 2021, to COVAX, a United Nations (U.N.) Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination programme for poorer countries. The Chancellor of Germany – Angela Merkel also committed an extra 1.5 billion euros for the global rollout. The E.U. also doubled its own COVAX funding to one billion euros. The total fund commitment from G7 member stands at 7.5 billion euros.
