The Philippine government has stopped issuing permits for nurses who wished to work abroad after the annual limit of 5,000 healthcare workers deployed has been reached.
Assistant nurses and aides are also affected by the suspension order.
The head of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), Bernard Olalia, said in a June 01 statement posted on the agency’s website that the processing of permits for the medical workers has been suspended immediately.
The Philippines, which sends thousands of medical staff overseas to work every year is seeking to reinforce its own healthcare system as local coronavirus cases surge.
Latest figures on Saturday showed the nation added 6,955 cases of COVID-19, bringing the total to more than 1.2 million.
Healthcare workers that have been previously been issued employment certificates to work overseas will still be allowed to leave, according to the statement. (Source: Bangkok Post)