Finland opens doors to RP healthcare professionals

MANILA, Philippines - As its baby boom generation reaches retirement age, Finland is open to accepting Filipino health care professionals, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Friday.

In a statement posted on its website, the DFA said the Philippines had proposed to send a mission to Finland to discuss the need for a bilateral agreement on labor.

"Finland is widely expected to be one of the first European countries to experience a demographic shock as an estimated 900,000 of its 'baby boom' generation reach retirement age within the next twelve years. With insufficient birth rates to offset the country's rapidly aging population, the ensuing decline in the working-age population is predicted to lead to rising pensions and deteriorating healthcare services," the DFA said.

Philippine Ambassador to Sweden Maria Zeneida Collinson met with Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb, Minister of Employment and the Economy Tarja Cronberg and ranking officials for health care and migration in a visit to Finland last April 16 to 18.

She discussed with them the Philippines' readiness to be a partner in helping alleviate the critical shortage of nurses and other healthcare professionals in Finland.

The Philippine government proposes to send a mission to Finland led by officials of the Department of Labor and Employment before yearend to discuss the need for a bilateral agreement on labor.

"Minister Cronberg welcomed the proposal. The positive stance was echoed by officials of the Ministry of Interior, Immigration Department and the Ministry of Social Welfare and Health," the DFA said.

Ambassador Collinson first started discussions on the entry of Filipino healthcare professionals to Finland last year.

Last April 22, a pilot group of eight nurses arrived in Finland.

Aside from initial training and Finnish lessons in the Philippines, the group will be given further training leading to competence-based qualification of a practical nurse in Finland.

"A visit to the Philippines in the next few months by interested private sector groups is being discussed to help lay the groundwork for the official Philippine mission later in the year," the DFA said.

During her visit to Helsinki, Collinson also attended the dinner hosted by Finnish President Tarja Halonen for accredited ambassadors. - GMANews.TV

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