Czech Republic Opens Market for Filipino Nurses

March 2008POEA MARKET UPDATE NO. 08-08CZECH REPUBLIC OPENS MARKET FOR FILIPINO NURSESThe Philippine Embassy in Prague has reported that hospitals in the Czech Republic are interested to hire qualified Filipino nurses. The Czech hospitals are currently experiencing a shortage of nurses since many Czech nurses seek employment abroad due to higher salary offer than those offered in the Czech Republic. The shortage of nurses in Czech hospital has worsened to such extent that their hospitals have resorted to hiring medical workers from Ukraine and Poland. Training of nurses in Czech nursing schools was extended to 3 years as well. Instead of 5,000 nurses graduating this year, only 2,000 nurses will leave the Czech nursing schools due to the new directive. Even the Slovak nurses who worked in Czech hospitals for better pay are returning home after Slovakia increased the salaries of local medical workers. The shortage of skilled medical personnel is projected to accelerate to a more severe level in the next three to five years.The employment package for prospective Filipino nurses coming to the...