THE German-Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GPCCI), in close cooperation with Germany’s embassy in Manila and in honor of the German Federal Ministry of Health’s Parliamentary State Secretary’s visit to the Philippines, organized a roundtable on August 13, related to the recruitment of Philippine nurses to the European country.
With more than 30 participants, Philippine and German experts from the recruitment and health-care industry shared experiences, and discussed possible steps for an enhanced procedure on the recruitment and allocation process of Philippine nurses immigrating to Germany.
The latter is facing a severe lack of nursing and care staff in its medical centers due to its demography. To cover the growing shortage of health-care professionals, the German government, in cooperation, with its private sector, has been recruiting qualified nurses from countries outside the European Union, such as the Philippines.
The immigration of Philippine nurses to Germany has shown positive impacts in both societies, and has created more opportunities in the market. However, the German embassy revealed the recruiting process still encounters several challenges. One is the necessary level of language skills; another, the recognition of foreign nursing studies in Germany.
With the goal to ease and fast-track the recruiting of Filipino health-care personnel to Germany, the said country’s government started an initiative to streamline the administrative process, which is planned to take effect in October 2019.
“Germany’s government is committed to facilitate the access of Philippine nurses to [our] health-care sector. The procedures will be streamlined and simplified, and the working conditions will become even more attractive,” stated German Federal Ministry of Health’s Parliamentary State Secretary Sabine Weiss.
For the GPCCI’s part, its President Tristan Arwen Loveres emphasized: “The Philippines is regarded as one of the top health-care staff providers in the world because of the availability of skilled nurses, who are highly qualified, adaptable, hospitable and with good command [of the] English language. As Germany has a high need for nurses and the Philippines shows an oversupply, there is a unique opportunity for both countries to create a ‘win-win’ situation.”