“Health is wealth” an extremely vital cliché. In the modern employment world, Potential employers, especially international, thoroughly screen their applicants not just through their credentials but health wise as well. It somehow gives them the assurance that if the candidate is perfectly fit, they will produce excellent and quality service. Not only this, it also avoids untoward situations like frequent absences from work due to reasons which involve health.

Because of this, all aspiring Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) go through a tedious process in terms of medical examinations before their documents can be processed. Also, they get their medical exams done in certain clinics or hospitals that are accredited by the institutions they are applying. Applicants who end up being diagnosed with a certain ailment may lose the opportunity to work abroad.

The following list contains the common diseases that hinder a candidate from pursuing their dreams overseas.

Infectious Category

1. Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) / Acquired Immunodeficiency Virus (AIDS)– reactive. HIV is a lot like other viruses, including those that cause the flu or the common cold. But there is an important difference – over time, the immune system can clear most viruses out of your body. That isn’t the case with HIV – the human immune system can’t seem to get rid of it. Unfortunately, once infected with HIV or AIDS, you will have it forever, thus deterring applications abroad.
2. Hepatitis B surface antigen, Hepatitis C Virus reactive. Hepatitis B and C can be acquired through contact with infected blood or body fluids and sharing.
3. Tuberculosis. Any type, X-ray showing active PTB, past evidence of PTB or healed.
4. Pulmonary scar. Any signs of scarring in the lungs which can be seen through x-rays that were caused by previous lung infections.
5. Reactive Sexually Transmitted Diseases such as syphilis

Non-Infectious Category

1. Chronic renal failure. A progressive loss of function of the kidneys.
2. Chronic Hepatitis Failure. Continuous exposure to liver infections
3. Congestive Heart Failure. The heart cannot pump enough blood for the whole body that usually limits a person in doing activities of daily living.
4. Hypertension. When blood pressure is progressively high i.e. 140/90 and above
5. Diabetes Mellitus. Occurs when there are high levels of sugar in the blood that cannot get into the cells.
6. Psychiatric Disease and Neurological Disorders. Any applicants who are mentally disabled shall be subject to rejection of their application
7. Physical disabilities, i.e. color blindness, deafness

There might be more diseases that may impede with the pursuit of one’s applications that are not on this list. It is important to consult the agency concerned regarding the matter.

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