As we continue to adapt to the new normal brought about by the global health crisis, the Philippine government ceaselessly puts in effort to protect our frontliners, including our overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) as they go back to work in order to provide for their families, and altogether, contribute to the country’s economic uprising. Part of such an effort is the establishment of the OFW Hospital under the Duterte administration.
Situated on a 1.5 hectare land in San Fernando City, Pampanga, the OFW hospital is a joint project of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) that shall serve as the owner and overall manager, the Bloomberry Cultural Foundation as its construction sponsor, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) for funding and procurement of medical equipment, and the University of the Philippines – Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) that shall spearhead and manage the initial operations of the hospital’s polyclinic.
The OFW hospital is the first of its kind in the country. Housing over 100 hospital beds, it is mandated to provide free, quality, and accessible healthcare services specifically for overseas Filipino workers and their qualified dependents or beneficiaries.
Apart from DOLE, representatives from government agencies such as the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Department of Budget and Management (DBM), as well as representatives of land and sea-based OFWs, shall take part in the overseeing of the facility. Therefore, it shall also serve as the primary partner healthcare facility for Filipinos who wish to complete their overseas employment applications.
History
Initial preparations for its establishment began in 2018, under the leadership of then Pampanga Governor Lilia Pineda, and was continued by succeeding governor Delta Pineda. The provincial government of Pampanga, through a usufruct agreement, sought the support of the Clark Development Corporation for the realization of the hospital. However, the construction underwent a number of delays brought about by the pandemic. It was only in December of last year when President Rodrigo Duterte pushed for its urgency through the signing of Executive Order 154 which sought to speed up the completion process.
In January of 2022, DOLE and UP-PGH signed a memorandum of agreement to settle the provision of training assistance for clinical and administrative personnel, planning and acquisition of hospital equipment, and the creation of clinical and fiscal process flow.
On February 18, 2022, local officials, together with Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go, led the groundbreaking ceremony of the OFW hospital in Brgy. Sinalan, San Fernando City. In a report by Philippine Star, Governor Pineda commended the project as a milestone for the Philippine government to fulfill its promise of taking care of OFWs and their families. On the other hand, Senator Go mentioned that he will push for the support of the OFW Hospital in the Senate, and that should the project be a success, extensions in Visayas and Mindanao may be considered.
On May 1, 2022, President Duterte led another inspection of its ongoing completion. As part of the country’s Labor Day celebration, the hospital was opened for its polyclinic operations, but according to DOLE, it is expected to be fully operational by the end of June.
Benefits
The OFW Hospital shall be an exclusive healthcare facility for OFWs and their family dependents, so they can be assured that they will be prioritized for it. Apart from that, OFWs and their dependents can also enjoy the following benefits of the facility for free:
- Free consultation and referral services
- Medical certificates
- Laboratory exams
- Other medical requirements for overseas employment
Do note, however, that the OFW hospital is still in its initial operations, and these services are yet to be developed and finalized as completion of the facility is underway.
Services Offered
As of May 2022, the OFW Hospital has been catering to OFWs and their dependents for their polyclinic operations. The following are the currently available services by the facility:
- General consultations by physicians from UP-PGH
- Diagnostic, laboratory and imaging services, and;
- Referrals to specialists
The facility is open from Mondays to Fridays, except on holidays, from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
Who can avail the OFW hospital’s services?
The OFW Hospital accepts all OWWA OFW members as well as their qualified dependents, and shall cater to OFWs, whether bound for abroad or returning to the country:
- No age limit
- Land or sea-based OFW
- Currently or previously employed
- Active, inactive or undocumented OWWA OFW members
Furthermore, the OFW Hospital also caters to qualified dependents of OFWs. Qualified dependents may be any of the following:
- A legal spouse;
- A minor or incapacitated child
- A parent primarily depending on an OFW, or;
- A minor sibling of an unmarried OFW
Video: Completion of OFW Hospital
A video report on the completion of the OFW Hospital is published through the clip below:
The video, which was posted on January 24, 2022 by GMA Regional TV, provides a brief update on the completion status of the OFW hospital, as well as future plans for the facility as told by some of its overseeing officials such as UP-PGH Director Dr. Gerardo Legaspi, then Pampanga 2nd District Representative and Presidential Adviser on Clark Flagship Programs and Projects Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, and Arch. Dan Lichauco of the OFW Hospital Design Team.
Photos of the OFW Hospital in Pampanga
Check out these photos taken of the OFW Hospital as shared on the official Facebook Page of the Presidential Communications (Government of the Philippines)
Frequently Asked Questions
Please check out these common questions and answers about the hospital for OFW migrant workers:
1. What is the OFW Hospital? Where is it located?
Located along MacArthur Highway, Brgy. Sindalan, City of San Fernando, Pampanga, the OFW Hospital is the Philippines’s first healthcare facility that’s specifically designed to provide overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their families affordable, accessible, and quality healthcare services. It shall also serve as a primary partner healthcare facility for OFWs who wish to complete their medical requirements for employment.
2. When was the OFW Hospital built?
The OFW Hospital was first ideated in 2018, under the term of then Pampanga Governor Lilia Pineda and was pursued through the support of incumbent Governor Dennis Pineda, along with Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, and other government institutions such as DOLE, PAGCOR, UP-PGH in partnership with the Bloomberry Cultural Foundation and the Clark Development Corporation.
3. Is OFW Hospital already operational?
As of this writing, the facility operates as a polyclinic offering general consultation, diagnostic (laboratory and imaging) and referral services by medical professionals from UP-PGH. Other services are yet to be offered as completion of the facility continues.
4. Who are entitled to the OFW Hospital’s services?
The OFW Hospital caters to all OFWs, regardless of age, land or sea-based, employment history, or OWWA membership status. It also extends its services to their qualified dependents; a legal spouse, or a minor or incapacitated child of a married OFW, a minor sibling or parent primarily relying on an unmarried OFW may also avail.
5. What time does the OFW Hospital open?
The OFW Hospital is open from Mondays to Fridays, 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM, except on holidays. Online consultations are prioritized, and can be done through their appointment form here: https://appointment.ofwhospital.owwa.gov.ph/
6. Can OFWs abroad avail of its services?
Yes, OFWs who are currently deployed abroad may also avail of the OFW Hospitals general consultation services as provided in their schedule. Online appointments may be made by accomplishing the appointment form here: https://appointment.ofwhospital.owwa.gov.ph/
7. What services are being offered by the hospital?
The OFW Hospital offers free healthcare services to OFWs as well as their qualified dependents:
- General consultations by physicians from UP-PGH
- Diagnostic, laboratory and imaging services, and;
- Referrals to specialists
As mentioned, these services are free and medical documents issued by the facility may be used for overseas employment application
8. Are there other OFW Hospitals that I can visit?
As of the moment, the OFW Hospital being completed in Pampanga is the first of its kind. And while the OFW Hospital in Pampanga is yet to be completed, it is envisioned to be the primary healthcare facility for OFWs and their dependents in Luzon. According to Senator Go, should it be a success, he will strive to forward the creation of more OFW Hospitals throughout the country in order to make quality healthcare more accessible to more Filipinos.
Summary
The OFW Hospital is celebrated as the country’s thanksgiving gift to the OFWs and an unwavering promise to the protection and promotion of their rights and welfare. Amidst a global crisis, the Philippine government, through its partner institutions and the innate bayanihan spirit of the Filipinos, takes pride in fulfilling milestones like the OFW Hospital—and shall continue to make more—in hopes of bouncing back from the adversities of time.
To our OFWs and their family members, the OFW Hospital is bound to serve each and every one of you as a continued commitment by the Philippine government to serve your best interest, and to protect and promote your well-being.
Contact Information
For more information, you may visit their website at https://ofwhospital.owwa.gov.ph/ or their official Facebook page at https://facebook.com/OFW-Hospital.