Gov't increases healthcare worker deployment cap to 7,000
More Filipino healthcare workers would now be allowed abroad, as the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) has increased the annual deployment cap to 7000, Malacañang announced on Dec. 10.
Acting Malacañang spokesperson Karlo Nograles made the announcement during the televised palace briefing, stating that the cap has been increased after previous limit of 6,500 has been reached.
As read by Nograles, through IATF Resolution No. 153, "the 2021 annual deployment ceiling of new hire healthcare workers for occupations identified by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) as Mission Critical Skills shall be further increased."
"Nurses whose visas shall expire by 31 December 2021 shall be given preference," the resolution further read.
The Palace previously said that HCWs under government-to-government labor agreements are exempted from the ceiling.
Last June, the government had raised the annual deployment cap to 6500, from 5000, following calls from HCWs who wish to work abroad.
The initial 5,000 limit had been imposed in 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic raged, in a bid to ensure that there's enough manpower in the country's hospitals.
DOLE on Nov. 10 considered increasing the 2022 deployment cap to 10,500, if the country sees more registered nurses by year-end.