PH, UAE taking steps to boost healthcare of overseas Pinoys — DOH

The Philippines and the United Arab Emirates are taking joint measures to strengthen the healthcare of Filipino workers in the Middle Eastern country, the Department of Health (DOH) said.

This was discussed by Health Secretary Ted Herbosa and Dr. Maha Barakat, assistant minister for medical affairs and life science for the UAE, during the Philippines-UAE bilateral meeting at the World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland on May 19, 2026.

According to the DOH, the collaborative effort seeks to build a formal system that would allow the national insurance systems of both nations to cover the health check-ups and medication expenses of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the UAE.

The two countries also acknowledged the need to educate OFWs about illnesses such as hypertension and diabetes. The DOH described these as health concerns that Filipinos abroad, particularly in the UAE, tend to neglect.

Also during the bilateral meeting, Barakat lauded Filipino healthcare professionals who are working in various countries all over the world.

She said it would only be proper for the Philippines and UAE to take care of Filipinos, given their contribution to the global health workforce.

Over 2.4 million Filipinos are in the Middle East as of March 1, 2026, according to data gathered by GMA News Research.

Bulk of these Filipinos are in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, with populations of 975,000 and 813,000, respectively. — VDV, GMA News