hands-on do-it-yourself adventure on working abroad (updated as of Aug 2016)
http://www.dole.gov.ph/news/view/2890
GAMCA abolished per RA 10022 which
amended RA 8042 or the Migrant Workers' Act.
(1) No group or groups of medical clinics shall have a monopoly of
exclusively conducting health examinations on migrant workers
for certain receiving countries.
(2) Every Filipino migrant worker shall have the freedom to choose
any of the DOH-accredited or DOH-operated clinics that will
conduct his/her health examinations and that his/her rights as a
patient are respected.
(3) All DOH-accredited medical clinics, including the DOH-operated clinics, conducting health examinations for Filipino migrant workers shall observe the same standard operating procedures and shall comply with internationally-accepted standards in their operations to conform with the requirements of receiving countries or of foreign employers/principals.
(4) Any foreign employer who does not honor the results of valid health examinations conducted by a DOH-accredited or DOH-operated clinic shall be temporarily disqualified from participating in the overseas employment program, pursuant to POEA Rules and Regulations.
http://www.poea.gov.ph/rules/SC_Gamca_Ruling_2015.pdf(3) All DOH-accredited medical clinics, including the DOH-operated clinics, conducting health examinations for Filipino migrant workers shall observe the same standard operating procedures and shall comply with internationally-accepted standards in their operations to conform with the requirements of receiving countries or of foreign employers/principals.
(4) Any foreign employer who does not honor the results of valid health examinations conducted by a DOH-accredited or DOH-operated clinic shall be temporarily disqualified from participating in the overseas employment program, pursuant to POEA Rules and Regulations.
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| Medical Exam Result Fit to Work in Qatar (certified last Jul. 2015) |
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| GAMCA Medical Exam Result Fit to Work in Kuwait (certified last Nov. 2011) |
The list of diseases that would render an aspiring employee UNFIT TO WORK in GCC countries includes the following;
Infectious category
• HIV/AIDS reactive
• Hepatitis B surface antifgen, HCV reactive
• Microfilaria positive and malaria blood film positive, known leprosy patients
• Tuberculosis – any type, X-ray showing active PTB, past evidence of PTB or healed • Pulmonary scar, including minimum fibrosis, calcification (granuloma) pleural thickening, pleural effusion, tuberculosis lymphadenitis
• VDRL/TPHA reactive
Non-infectious category
• Chronic renal failure
• Chronic hepatitis failure
• Congestive heart failure
• Hypertension
• Diabetes mellitus
• Known case of cancer
• Psychiatric disease and neurological disorders
• Physical disabilities, i.e. color blindness, deafness
Medical Exam Coverage (for phase 1 and phase 2, whole day process to start at 8am)
1. nurse station; blood pressure and basic information (5 mins).
2. laboratory; blood extraction (must have 12 hours fasting), stool (bring sample) and urine (on-site sample) (5 mins).
3. chest x-ray (5 mins).
4. dental exam (5 mins).
5. optometry that includes visual acuity, near vision and color blindness (5 mins).
6. physical examination that includes wearing-off pants, underwear and other advance health questions (5 mins).
7. psyche test that includes abstract questions (1.5 hour).
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| GAMCA certified at the back of Medical Exam Result page |
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| GAMCA certified at the back of passport page of visa |
What if you have scar on the lungs? US there any chanceto be fit if the findings are negtive its only scar already?
ReplyDelete@Muhammad Abdullah; Unfortunately there is NO chance to be fit even if its just a history of having scar. Even though it's negative, it is included in infectious disease list.
DeleteThanks for this post. Do you have any idea how long it will take for the medical results to come out? And as a direct hire for Oman, am I allowed to get my medical results? (last time I processed for Saudi, the clinic directly gave results to the agency).
ReplyDelete@Allan Yasser; I think the standard queuing is 1 week (depends, sometime you have to retake some medical areas for clarification or confirmation).
DeleteCan i medicaly fit ;If I have scoliosis ?
ReplyDelete@remyanthomas; if the clinic declared immediately you are unfit, then ask justification even though this deficiency is not in the list. If the clinic provided reconsideration, then its up to your employer to decide if they will declare you fit with waiver or not.
DeleteVery interesting blog. Alot of blogs I see these days don't really provide anything that I'm interested in, but I'm most definately interested in this one. Just thought that I would post and let you know.
ReplyDeleteMimikfalten
I have dextroscoliosis.. Does it make me UNFIT?
ReplyDelete@Angelica; in my honest opinion, it falls under non-infectious category which means unfit, unless your employer sent a waiver that dextroscoliosis does not affect your work.
DeleteSee this link: http://www.ofwguide.com/article_item-2489/OFWs-Can-Now-Choose-Clinics-for-Medical-Exam.html
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion for scar, if Lung Center of the Phils says you are fit to work, GCC countries should abide that. Or perhaps some infectious category from the list should now be remove by GCC countries like history of scar, as it is not infectious disease per se.
No, even if the Lung Center of the Phils. says you are Clear of the scar & Fit To Work, the employer has the right to reject possible employment at their own discretion. The best thing to do is to remove scar in the list as INFECTIOUS DESEASE esp.if you don't have any history of TB.
ReplyDeleteHi I am applying for a work for UAE . is it okay or am I fit to work even I have hemorroid ? Please do answer me . Thank you
ReplyDeleteit still subject to your employer's decision.
Deletewill you be banned if you found unfit in your medical?mine was found ko ha infection bound to kuwait...
ReplyDeleteit depends of being how unfit you are
DeleteHi. I just had my xray stating that I have a mild blunting of left CP angle, minimal pleural thickenign or effusion. It has the adjectives "mild" and "minimal" though. Can it be waived by my company? Or should I have a medical clearance issued by Lung Center? thanks.
ReplyDeleteYes it can be waived by the company but it will depend on the nature of job your are hired... it is advisable also to have a medical clearance in Lung Center to support the x-ray result
DeleteKumusta po? I have minimal Pleural effusion/thickening din result ko sa chest x ray. Na consider kaba? Or did you undergo treatment muna?
DeleteUsually treatment muna yan or depende sa employer mo.
DeleteI want to know if there's a chance to work in Saudi Arabia am applying as a Sales Lady but the main thing my concern is in my xray recent result I have Stable Fibrotic Residuals in the Left Apex compared to 7-16-16 & 4-4-14 exams.No new Infiltrates seen. What am going to do? Do i need for waiver?
ReplyDeleteusually po pag may any negative findings sa x-ray, magpa-2nd consultation po kayo sa ibang x-ray clinic... Again, depende po sa company na magha-hire sa yo, pwede silang mag-issue ng waiver sa clinic para makapasa ka.
DeleteI have a job offer from Bahrain, nagkaroon ako ng TB last 2016 but treated na and I have certification na complete ang medication at ok na ako. Would a waiver from my employer be able to help me to get a FIT TO WORK in GAMCA? or ok na ang certification? Thanks!
ReplyDeleteYes, employer waiver ang magpapa-FIT TO WORK sa yo. Yung certification syempre yang back-up evidence mo sa employer mo para bigyan ka nya ng waiver.
DeleteGoodmorning. I have a job offer in bahrain. I had clear xray and negative AFB test but was PPD(mantoux test positive). Is there a chance that i will be fit and be considered by the employer? Has there been a case that they accept and just do preventive oral treatement in bahrain?
ReplyDeletetanong nyo na lang po sa agency nyo para sila magtanong sa employer nyo ng limitations.
DeleteHello po...i want to go to bahrain as a nurse, but i have this rpr positive but after 2 days i got treatment then the doktor told me that i am treated. In this case it can be waive by an employer? Thank u
ReplyDeletedepende sa limitation / strict level ng medical requirement ng employer mo kung mag-i-issue sila ng waiver.
Deletecan a medical certificate be renewed???.. my med cert will expired this nov 3.. because of agencies taking long to process my papers.. does the kuwait embassy consider it???...
ReplyDeletewala pong renewal natural, kuha po ulit ng bago.
DeleteFor overseas bound to Kuwait, applicable pa din po ba ang GCC na accredited clinic lang pwede magprocess ng medical or any DoH pwede na?
ReplyDeleteDo you have an idea of the exact diagnostic tests needed for Kuwait? Thank you!
yes, applicable pa din, test above generally lang po unless you declared something unusual.
DeleteSo did u check in other clinic?because I have same problem and got job at Abu Dhabi as sports trainer.
ReplyDeleteyes, but most probably waiver is the best option
DeleteWill operations (done in past) of neurological problems declare unfit for medical?
ReplyDeleteNo, I don't think so, it's not in the list
DeleteHi! I just want to clarify lang po, UAE employers have the right to issue waiver para maging fit ka in case na makitaan ka ng lung scar? Tama po ba?
ReplyDeleteyup, not a right and compulsory, it's still up to them if they will issue or not. On my case, yung agency mismo ang nag-waiver kasi alam nila not related and case ko (semi-color blind) sa work ko.
DeleteAh. Thank you for this! Nice blog, btw. Very informative.
Deletequestion? ang dental exam ba ay makapag unfit to work sa middle east kahit ang problema ay ipapasta lng. salamat sa sasagot..
ReplyDeleteof course no, ang babaw. pakibasa yung mga critical per above post.
DeleteWhat if ang employer ay willing magbigay nang waiver pero wala po akong makitang clinic na tatanggap po nang waiver? Ano po ba ang mga gamca clinics na tumatanggap ng waiver bound to kuwait po? Salamat po.
ReplyDeletewala na pong GAMCA clinics, pakibasa po ang post. basta DFA accredited clinics ayos na po yun.
Deletelipoma will affect to unfit to work? thank you...
ReplyDeleteit depends on the doctor's advise.
DeleteAng diabetes poh b pedeng mai waiver kasi ininform ako ng agency nah willing daw mag waiver ang employer ko
ReplyDeletesince willing naman ang employer mo, basta submit mo lang ang waiver sa clinic para i-declare ka nila na fit to work.
DeleteI have jaundice, day after tomorrow my medical if any problem for my fitness
ReplyDeleteit depends on the doctor's advise.
DeleteHi pO ask kO lng pO kc May lung scar ako andwilling mag bigay ng waiver ang employers ko Sa Bahrain matatanggap ba un ng gcc???
ReplyDeleteYes matatanggap ka, employer mo na nagsabi.
DeleteIs Vitiligo cab affect my medical exam. Work will be service crew bound for Saudi
ReplyDeleteNO po, pero depende pa din sa employer.
DeleteHello po...for medical na po ako going saudi but meron po akong scoliosis...ano po dpat ko gawin since wl nmn po sa list ng sakit na prohibited ung sa condition k.Need k po b inform yung agency bgo ako mgpamedical?please advise. Thank you
ReplyDeleteyes po, you need to inform your agency. baka kasi mag-request pa ng waiver and clinic para i-release nila and medical record mo as FIT TO WORK.
DeleteHello sir. I hope yo can give me your opinion about my situation. Mahina ang pandinig ng right ear ko, pero normal ang hearing nung left. Do you think I can pass the med exam for Saudi Visa this coming Monday?
ReplyDeleteas long as your employer GAVE / ACKNOWLEDGE through waiver dun sa clinic para para ma-release ang medical permit mo for FIT TO WORK, you can pass the Saudia visa po.
DeleteGood pm nagkaroon ako ng minimal ptb last mga 90's last 2010 numerical ako at nag fit to work sa UAE, Qatar,SaudiArabia..ang pinaka huling visa ko sa passport 2018 sa Qatar..nagkaroon ako ng problem sa pag alis ko sa agency's Dahil na reprocess ang dokumento ko kaya hindi ako nabigyan ng Oec sa pagwidraw no Sinama ko medical payment refund nakuha ko naman after that doon na bagsimula kalbaryo lahat ng medical ko magmula 2018 nakafinding na ako ng fibrosis.kaya Hindi na ako maka alis until now gusto ko sanang magconduct ng investigation kung sinabotahe ang medical result ko sa gcc o findings na talaga at ayaw iwaiver ng agency's at clinic.pasagot naman po salamat
ReplyDeleteFirst wala pong sabotahe, baka naman po bumalik ung PTB nyo po, magpa-2nd consultation kayo. Di po talaga for waiver ang PTB-related cases, ang nagbibigay po tlg ng waiver is ang prospected employer nyo po.
DeleteStrict po ba ang dental exam ?
ReplyDeletehindi po.
Deletekaht d ba 20/20.vision makakapasa pa.rin ba sa.medical
ReplyDeleteOO naman po, dami ko nakikitang naka-reading glasses. Pero syempre depende sa job nature mo din at employer requirement, minsan mahigpit sila.
DeleteGood day... Last October 4 2020 nag medical po ako Para sa Saudi.. Unfit to work po yon result due to vdrl and htpa reactive.. May chance po maging fit to work ako.. May schedule na po ako ulit for medical this Nov 26 2020
ReplyDeleteYes, you can still dispute the clinic provided result via your employer's signed waiver. Humingi ka ng waiver sa employer mo po.
DeleteGood day po. I underwent medical exam already for Japan as a teacher, pero may minimal Pleural effusion/thickening po result ko sa xray. Hindi po ako ma bigyan ng fit to work ng clinic. Ang company ko sa Japan ay strict lang sila sa Tuberculosis and any history of it. Can I still contest with the clinic's result para ma bigyan ako ng fit to work? Ano po pwede gawin or the company?
ReplyDeleteYes, you can still dispute the clinic provided result via your employer's signed waiver. Humingi ka ng waiver sa employer mo po.
Deletehi! thanks for this blog. It's very informative!
ReplyDeleteWould just like to ask some clarifications please:
1. Would just like to ask if the abolishment of the GAMCA monopoly is still in effect as of today?
2. Not really sure of the process since I don't have an employer yet but considering OMAN for my next job destination.. Should the request for medical come from your employer? Is it indicated there whether it has to be done on GAMCA accredited clinics or not?
3. Once test results become available, will they submit the results directly to the employer or do GAMCA clinics have access on a certain database which can be accessed by both employers and the GCC?
4. If in case they tag you as UNFIT to work, do you ask them for reconsideration by coordinating with other specialists then providing them the findings?
5. I've been reading some of the questions and the answers provided specifically on the waiver to be provided by the employer in case tagged as UNFIT to work. Is there a chance that the waiver will be provided by the agency instead? Also, once a waiver is provided by the employer, do we need to coordinate back to the clinic or it's understood that you're already "FIT' to work?
6. How soon can we retake GAMCA test once tagged as UNFIT?
1. Wala na pong GAMCA since 2013, basa basa po muna ng post sa taas
ReplyDelete2. Yes. Again, WALA NA NGANG GAMCA, basa basa po.
3. No sa yo muna ipapaalam baka maremedyuhan pa yung minor findings. Pag major tapos na po.
4. It's up to your employer.
5. Waiver pag yung findings medyo di critical sa work. Pag sinabing unfit po most probably yung findings critical sa work.
6. Depende po sa findings.
Papasa po kaya sa medical kahit blind na isang mata? Thanks for tge reply - Saudi applicant
ReplyDeleteAgain, depende po sa employer. Usually yung ganyang case hinihingan ng clinic ng waiver from employer. Meron po ako co-employee na exactly ng case mo, ayun 15 years na sa work nya. Be positive na lang po sa employer nyo.
Delete