IATF: Still no deployment of health workers abroad

MANILA, Philippines — The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases mandated anew yesterday the suspension of overseas deployment of medical and allied health workers due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said the IATF approved the recommendation of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), which sought the temporary deployment ban.

“Considering the continuing state of public health emergency, the overseas deployment of medical and allied health workers is temporarily suspended pursuant to the POEA governing board Resolution No. 09,” read the IATF resolution.

The Department of Health and all hospitals and healthcare facilities of local government units and entities are enjoined to hire these medical and allied health workers to supplement the current workforce, the IATF said.

National Task Force chief implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said Filipinos in the health sector should have the moral responsibility to stay in the country and help in saving lives here rather than go abroad.

Roque said the task force emphasized that the temporary ban stays, particularly on those who are seeking new contracts abroad.

The government has allowed those who need to return to their overseas jobs or those who have existing contracts, but were initially barred from leaving due to the quarantine status.

“We have a saying, ‘Charity begins at home’. We need our doctors and allied medical professionals badly, we need them to stay in the country,” Roque said.

Six months since the government dealt with the pandemic, Roque said the government recognizes that the medical professionals and health workers have been doing their best to protect the people.

Roque appealed to doctors, nurses and the rest of the health workers to stay in the country.

He said the government has been strengthening the healthcare system to enable the hospitals and quarantine facilities to hold more people who might need immediate care and confinement.

Roque assured the public that the administration is working hard to rise above the difficult challenges.