PH suspends deployment of health workers after reaching annual cap

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 5) — The government suspended the deployment of nurses and nursing aides this year after the 6,500 cap was reached last month.

In an advisory dated Oct. 26 but only released this week, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) announced that “the processing, issuance of overseas employment certificates (OECs), and deployment of new hires for nurses and nursing assistants are suspended effective immediately.”

POEA Administrator Bernard Olalia said “the ceiling has been reached”.

Healthcare workers who have OECs can still leave for their overseas employment.

POEA said the suspension will remain in effect until the Inter-Agency Task Force issues a new resolution.

In June, the IATF raised the cap from 5,000 to 6,500. In late 2020, the government imposed the cap considering the "national demand" for healthcare workers amid the COVID-19 pandemic.