Question & AnswerQ&A (DOH ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 1)
The purpose is to establish, regulate, and upgrade the standards of medical services and examination of overseas land-based workers and seafarers for inter-island and overseas employment to ensure only occupationally qualified and physically and medically fit workers/seafarers participate in the employment program.
An accredited medical facility is a clinic that has passed the accreditation requirements of the Department of Health to conduct Pre-Employment Medical Examination for land-based overseas workers and seafarers.
PEME shall be conducted only after the agency or its principal/shipping company has interviewed, trade tested, and finally accepted the applicant for employment, as stated in a referral slip addressed to the accredited medical facility.
The cost of repatriation shall be shouldered by the medical facility, which must file an affidavit of undertaking to this effect with the applicant's agency, company, and the DOH. The cost shall be taken from the cash bond posted at the DOH by the accredited facility.
Included tests are complete history taking and physical examination, chest x-ray, complete blood count, blood typing, routine urinalysis, routine fecalysis, dental examination, psychometric evaluation, and electrocardiograph examination if the applicant is 40 years old and above.
Seafarers must undergo visual acuity and color perception tests (using Ishihara Test), hearing and audiometric testing, in addition to the tests mentioned for land-based workers.
For land-based workers, the PEME results are valid up to the end of the contract. For sea-based workers, the PEME Certificate is valid for two years during continuous sea-based service, with further medical exams required if contract extensions occur.
A full-time psychologist registered with BHFS is responsible for psychological screening and evaluation, which includes a battery of psychological tests, an autobiography, and a comprehensive interview.
The medical facility must maintain a Master Logbook, duly registered and stamped by the Bureau of Health Facilities and Services (BHFS), to record PEME activities.