Whether you plan to work here or overseas, medical exam will always be part of the requirements you need to accomplish before you can start work. In fact, medical exam is stricter for overseas workers because you need to ensure that you are physically fit to work. The difference in weather conditions could affect you and your employer needs to ensure that you can endure that. After all, you’re under contract, right?
That being said, here are things you need to know about medical examination for OFWs:
When to take a medical exam?
Apparently, it’s not as soon as possible. You can schedule for a medical exam either after receiving your job offer overseas or after signing the overseas employment contract. Ask your employer about this first since they might require certain clinics, especially if you are headed to any countries in the Middle East.
How much?
This usually depends on the medical clinic. Nonetheless, it is best to prepare at least P1,500.00 to cover for all procedures like urine and fecal test, and drug test among others. Once completed, you will be given a medical exam certificate, which is valid for three months.
The medical exam fee will be shouldered by you. In case you were issued a medical certificate and it’s about to expire but you still can’t leave the country, you will be required to take another medical exam, but this time, it will be shouldered by the agency.
What happens during medical examination?
Don’t worry. Medical exam for aspiring OFWs is similar to how medical examination is conducted for new employees. You will be asked to take laboratory exam like blood, urine, and fecal tests. Your vision, hearing, and oral health will likewise be checked.
Thereafter, physical examination will be conducted. This is to check the status of your physical health and the existence of medical conditions such as cardiovascular disease, chronic renal failure, hypertension, and diabetes. You will also be asked to undergo psychological testing to make sure that you can cope and adapt with the new environment. Psychiatric diseases and neurological disorders are likewise prohibited from working overseas.
Medical exam varies per country.
Every country that welcomes foreign workers has corresponding specifications and requirements in conducting medical examination.
For instance, if you are bound to Middle East countries specifically Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman, you should comply with the requirements set by Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) – Accredited Medical Clinics Association or GAMCA. This way, the specified countries are assured that no foreign workers with sexually transmitted disease, tuberculosis, and pulmonary scar can enter their respective countries.
What is the essence of medical exam?
The answer is simple: to ensure that you are fit to work. If the medical certificate reflects that you are physically fit to work abroad, then you can proceed to the next steps so you can leave on time and start your work overseas. Otherwise, your job offer will be cancelled (or delayed, depending on the findings of the medical clinic) if the medical exam revealed that you are suffering from a specific condition.
What does this mean then? Take care of your health, regardless if you are planning to work overseas or not. Health is wealth and don’t waste your hard-earned money by spending it on hospital bills and maintenance medications.
what do you think would be the result of the final medical if you’ve done a pre medical exam?
Hi Joyce! That would depend na po on the findings of the doctor on that particular day. Thanks.
Ask ko lang po kung ma uunfit to work ba ako if my history ako ng potts disease uri po siya ng tb sa spine pero wala po akong sakit sa lungs kasi po kabado ako sa medical ko for oman po kung mafifit to work po ba ako or hind ung inaaplayan ko naman po kasi is customer service po sa isang amusement park po sa Oman Thanks!
Hi Lord! This would depend narin po sa agency if papayagan parin yan or hindi na. Baka po kasi may certain health requirement and we can’t tell if your condition will be allowed. Thanks!
Hi po what if expires n medical exam pwede pa rin po ba umalis ng bansa? Hindi n rin po ba titingansa immigration yung medical certificate?
Hi Jean! Please coordinate this with your agency. Maaari po kasi ipaulit ng agency kung expired na ito. Salamat.
Mag re medical po uli. Eto ang nangyari sa akin hassle kaya lang wala ka magawa.
Mag kano Yung price pa medical po?
Hi Juan. It depends po sa clinic. You can ask the agency kung saan kayo nag-apply as to magkano ang medical exam. Thanks!
Hingi po ako ng inyong opinyon… pinag rre mdical ako ng agency., nbasa ko dito n dapat agency ang magbayad… pero sa aking agency now ako ang pinagbbyad pra sa dito…
Req po b ito tlga bago tayo mkaalis,? Sa bansang ppunthan ko ipapamedical p din po ako…
Hi Hussein! Yes po, required po ang medical exam to be sure that you are physically fit, lalo pagdating sa country destination. You may ask po for a reimbursement dun sa pinang-medical ninyo. Since pinapaulit, we’re not sure lang po if kayo na ang mag-shoulder ng medical expense.
Hi can u still be fit to work if you have a benign cyst on breast?
Thanks.
Hi Reena. You may ask recruitment agencies regarding this. We’re not familiar po kasi sa mga conditions na hindi ina-allow overseas. Salamat.
Good day! yung friend ko po kasi wants to apply singapore, doesnt care kung through agency o direct hire, ang problema nya po kasi may hepa b sya. nalaman nya po na hindi naman nirerequired sa singapore ang hepa screening. Tanong ko lang po kung babagsak pa rin bo sya sa medical dito sa pilipinas kahit accept o di naman required ng employer kahit may ganung diease?
Thank you po.
Hello Darwin. Depende na po yan sa medical exam. If stated naman na fit to work, then wala naman po magiging problema.
Hi. Ask lang po. Ung my fatty liver po ba problema sa medical for middle east ?
Hello Kenzo. We’re not sure po. You can ask recruitment agencies since sila po ang mas nakakaalam pagdating sa mga ganyang specific concerns. Thanks.
panu po pag butas ang eardrum peru nkakarinig naman. and anung test po ang gngawa sa tae,
Hi Mark. Recruitment agencies are more equipped to answer specific questions like this. We’re not sure po kasi kaya ayaw namin magbigay ng definite answer at baka magkamali kami. Salamat.
Hi po! Ask KO lang po kung pwede or papasa sa medical ang na cs after 4 months po para sa gulf countries? Thanks
Hi Charm. As long as medically fit ka and fit to work, then no issue 🙂
Ask ko lang, never kc ako nagkprob sa xray as in ever, 3x na ako nag US. Pero recently nag apply ako forSG then yung findings sa medical may left pleuradiagphram adhesion daw. Tactics b yun ng lab? Kc sbi wag ko daw ipaulit sa iba😏 non smoker po ako, occassional drinker lang dn. never ako naexpose sa mga sobrang toxic na environment,
Hi Jen. It’s hard to judge the lab din po. Have you tried getting a medical exam sa ibang lab?
Hello pwede po ba imedical kht may monthly period po ako?
Hi Fem. Please consult the clinic regarding this. We’re not familiar po kasi sa procedure. Thanks.
how bout if may hemmorhoids ka unfit to work po na un?
Hi! That would depend narin po sa findings ng clinic and sa requirements ng employer.
Hello po…ask k lng kc for medical npo ako going saudi ky lhg po kc may scoliosis po ako – curve ung spine na makikita sa xray…magkakaproblem po b ako sa medical ko abroad? please advice..hindi nmn po nkakahawa ito dhil d nmn po ito sakit..bone deformity po cya
Hi Aleena! This depends din po if magrereflect sa inyong medical na you are fit to work. You can check with your agency as well.
Balak ko po sana mgapply sa Singapore kaso baka po maunfit ako kasi my mild thoracic dextroscoliosis ako.Sa case ko po my pagasa po ba na mkapagtrabaho ako abroad??
Hi Cristina. Foreign employers are strict po when it comes to health. You can coordinate with a recruitment agency and ask regarding this. Yung iba po kasi, pinapa-sign ata ng waiver.
Hi. scoliosis is not a disease, try asking ur employer for suggestions.
Hi po hired po ako as factory worker s taiwan. my past operation history ako ng inborn hernia(luslos) nung 2004 and all cleared ndn nmn from urologist nung nagpa check up ako last week. I ffit to work po kya nla un pag my operation history? At sa medcert po nla na ibbgy s agency iindicate paba doon ung findings like ung sa opera ko? Tnk u po
Hi. If cleared naman po kayo and declared fit to work, then you can be allowed to work overseas. Usually naman po, hindi na ilalagay ang medical history since ang concern po is yung findings noong nagpa-medical kayo.
hi po if my hepa pwede po pa ba magka abroad lalo sa oman
Hello Mhikel. If you are cleared or declared “fit to work” on your medical exam, then you may work naman po.
Hi po paano po pag elevated crea 171.61 (63.6-110.5)
May chance pa po kaya makaalis
Tia
Hello Mark. That would depend po if they will clear you and say na medically fit po kayo to work overseas. We’re not very familiar with this condition kaya we can’t give specific answers po. Thanks.
After the medical examination. I was then asked to do cardiovascular clearance, para saan to? Does that mean meron something wrong with my health? I am only 34 years old.
Hi Brey. Perhaps, the cardiovascular clearance is to ensure that you are in good, healthy condition. We’re not doctors, though, so we wouldn’t know the implication of this test. Nonetheless, it is best to go through this para narin ma-check ang inyong health. Thanks!
Same here. First time ko na experience. Lage ako fit sa mga medical now dahil agency referral sila eh may mga kung ano Anong something sila na sinasabi. So i went to other doctor and she gave me a certificate that I’m fit to work. Sabi ni doc I don’t know why they are making that abnormal but it’s normal daw yung bad cholesterol and good cholesterol ko. And then she read my ecg it’s good din daw.
Hello po .. ask ko lng po sana .. mkkpasa po kaya ako sa medical exam kung my history na po ako ng operasyon sa gallbladder 3yrs ago? .. ok naman na po ako ngaun. . kayang kaya ko na po mgwork as DH po sana sa hongkong .. magpifit to work po kya ako kht my history na? Tsk di nman po kalabuan mata ko pero alam ko irerequest nila na mgpasalamin ako .. tnggap po ba un sa fit to work? Sana po masagot nyo .. thank you po ..
Hi Rosemary! That’s for the doctor to decide po since sila po ang magsasabi na medically fit po kayo to work as a household worker. We can’t give a specific answer on this since hindi din po kami familiar sa process and requirements.
hello po, i have application po going to kuwait pero actually po i have 2 agencies na kasalukuyan ko pong inapplayan pero yong na una po kasi until now wala sa aming feedback then they just keep saying na wait nalang daw po kami ng releasing ng visa before kami mag medical and so on sa processing, questions lang po kasi yong isang agency na kausap namin and also we’ve asked some na kakilala po namin na nasa kuwait na nag undergo muna sila ng medical before magrelease ng visa alin po ba ang totoo? need po ba namin magmedical here sa pinas prior na mabigyan kami ng visa or kelangan po muna namin mag antay na marelease yng visa daw bago po kami magmedical
thank you po sa mkakasagot
Hi Katnis! Medical should be the first one. If you are declared medically fit, then that’s the time na papapirmahin po kayo ng contract.
Good day, what wala akong recruitment agency, direct hiring from the country na pinanggalingan ko, Bali ang dating is nagexit ako then balik pero sa ibang country. Do I need to take any medical if may working visa na ako? Although my recent medical was 6 months ago.
Hi Van. Medical may not be required na since they could accept your recent medical exam.
Good day!
I am a registered Nurse.
Unfortunately, I acquired minimal PTB way back 2012. I am comply with 6 months. The hospital gave me 14 days to take the medications and they let me continue my duty.
My pulmonologist issued me a certificate that it’s not contagious already.
By that time na nahawaan ako nang sakit na PTB I feel hopeless,pakiramdam ko sobrang hopeless na po talaga ako.
For now po I am planning to apply in Japan as caregiver.
Possible po ba na tanggapin ako with my small scar? Sometimes kita sa xray sometimes Wala po..
Pakitulungan po ako..
I need po your advice please.
Hello Yoshi. If you are cleared and declared “Fit to Work,” then possible naman po. We’re not sure po kasi as to the procedure and we don’t want to give false hopes as well.
Pag dating mo sa ibang bansa may medical pa po ba? Paano pag nag fail ka dun kasi tumaas BP mo?
Hello Jerrel. We’re not sure po regarding this. There are countries daw po that requires on-site medical exam, but hindi po kami sigurado kung anu ano ang mga bansang ito.
Ask ko lang po plan ko mag apply abroad as factory worker kaso po may skin problem ako nag dry lng po ung sugat at di gumagaling makakapasa po na akosa medical thanks po sana po matulungan niyo poako
Hi! If you are medically fit, the skin problem won’t affect your work, and the doctor cleared you, then pwede naman po siguro 🙂 We are not the best gauge po kasi whether or not you will pass the medical exam so it is best to consult an expert regarding this.
Ask ko lang po ung case ng kakilala ko. Final medical na siya for israel (fit to work sa pre med) tapos ang findings po may lung scar siya kaya nagpasecond opinion sa lung center wherein clear naman ung xray niya. Ayaw pa rin tanggapin ng clinic ung findings doon. Other 2 clinics po ulit clear pa din pero naninindigan po ang first clinic na may lung scar. Hindi naman daw po.pwede na lumipat sa iba. Anu po kaya magandang gawin kasi sure naman po na clear ung xray
Hi Red! Most agencies po kasi ay may partner medical clinics kaya most likely, yun po ang susundin nila. Baka your friend can sign a waiver, declaring the agency and employer FREE from any liability in case may mangyari sakanya abroad na related sa lungs. The problem with this naman po is kapag may nangyari abroad, hindi papanagutan ng employer ang nangyari.
hello, makaka abroad kaba if may fatty liver ka? i need an answer please. thanks.
Hello Kendrick! You can clarify this with the agency as well. Mas sila po ang nakakaalam kung ano ang mga minimum health requirements ng employer. Salamat.
Fit to work pa rin po ba kapag uncircumcised penis ung findings sa medical.
Hello JB, yes, especially since it won’t affect your work.
Hello po! I would like to ask po if magpapa medical ulit ako if my medical certificate will expire this coming November 28, 2019.. however, the agency told me that there is nothing to worry about because I am already done with the visa stamping and dont have to do a repeat medical even if it would expire.
Hello. If the agency allowed this, then no need magpa-medical ulit. Thanks!
I have jock itch. Hndi po siya contagious, treatable po siya. But the doctor required me to undergo treatment for 1 week. Hence l, this skin disease also is not on the prohibited list of GAMCA. What do you think will be the result of my medical
Hi! If your medical exam says you are fit to work, pwede naman po.
ok lang po b mgmedical khit my ubo at sipon?
Hi Glen. It’s better to delay this para cleared ang lumabas sa findings.
Ask ko lang po,wala po pag asa maka abroad pag meron kang external hemorrhoid?
Hi Jave! This depends din po sa nature of job. If the medical exam shows you are fit to work, pwede naman po.
hi po ask ko lang pag normal po ba ang hemoglobin is wala akong faty liver.. nag medical po lasi ako at for japan po..
Hello Rick! We’re not sure regarding this. As long as you are cleared and declared “fit to work,” then you’re all good 🙂
Hi! Ask ko lang kung need ba ako mag take ng medical exam ulit since mag eexpire na medical ko jan 24 although meron nako visa na issue last week pero hindi pa ko napapaalis ng agency. Thanks!
Hi! Please check with your agency regarding this since they are more fit to answer this kind of query. Thanks!
Hi paano po kung uti lang nmn papayagan ba yan sa oman?
Hi Tala. Yes naman since this is a treatable condition.
Ask ko lang po kung mataas po blood pressure during the time nag pamedical po ako, high blood daw po ako sabi ng Doctor sa physical exam ko, unfit na po ba ako sa middle east?
Hello! This could affect the results of your medical exam. We’re not sure po if you will be considered as fit to work.
Hi. Bawal ba sa saudi arabia ng may scar sa lungs?
Hello Kins! Not so sure about this. But if you’re cleared during your medical exam, then you can work overseas.
hi po ask ko lang po after magpa pre medical test then lumabas na yung result.. ano po yung sunod na procedure
Thanks po sa sasagot….
Hi Kian. Please coordinate with your agency. They will tell you what other requirements you need to comply with to complete your application. Thanks!
Ask ko lng po.kung makakaabroad parin ba kahit malabo ang mata? Tapos meron pa pong konting scar.
Hello Dan! Kung na-declare naman po kayo na fit to work, then wala naman po sigurong problema. Still, ito po ay depende sa trabaho na papasukan.