Brunei opens door to Pinoy doctors, other health professionals

The Philippines has signed an agreement with Brunei Darussalam allowing Filipino doctors and other medical professionals to practice there "for short-term periods."

The memorandum of understanding — signed last week by Philippine Health Secretary Enrique Ona and Brunei Health Minister YB Pehin Dato Hj Adanan — seeks to identify and address gaps in each country’s health sector, a report on the Brunei Times said.

“A significant aspect of this MOU is that it allows Filipino doctors and other medical professionals to work in Brunei for short-term periods to complement Brunei’s medical workforce, particularly in specialty areas such as cardiology, nephrology, cancer treatment, among others," Ona said in a statement.

Six areas will be targeted by the MOU, namely:

- Medical and health research development.
- Public health including promotion and disease control and prevention with emphasis on non-communicable diseases,
- Capacity development of health profession including management and human resource development,
- Disaster preparedness and emergency medical services, quality assurance and accreditation of health facilities and services, and
- Health enforcement and regulations

Both countries will prepare action plans and programs, including bilateral visits and specialized services as part of the exchange, the Brunei Times report said.

Last March, Adanan told The Brunei Times that the Sultanate has a disproportionate ratio of local doctors to patients.

Even with an increase of doctors in 2014—283 compared to 194 in 2008—the minister said they still lacked specialists to expand their medical services. —Rie Takumi/KBK, GMA News