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DEPARTMENT
OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
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DEPARTMENT
OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
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SFA-AGR-297-08 |
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FINLAND OPEN TO FILIPINO HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS |
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Finland is widely expected to be one of the first European countries to experience a demographic shock as an estimated 900,000 of its "baby boom" generation reach retirement age within the next twelve years. With insufficient birth rates to offset the country's rapidly ageing population, the ensuing decline in the working-age population is predicted to lead to rising pensions and deteriorating healthcare services.
Ambassador Collinson said that the Philippine Government proposes to send a mission to Finland led by officials of the Department of Labor and Employment before yearend to discuss the need or otherwise of a bilateral agreement on labor. Minister Cronberg welcomed the proposal. The positive stance was echoed by officials of the Ministry of Interior, Immigration Department and the Ministry of Social Welfare and Health.
Ambassador Collinson first started discussions on the entry of Filipino healthcare professionals to Finland last year. On 22 April, a pilot group of eight nurses arrived in Finland. Aside from initial training and Finnish lessons in the Philippines, the group will be given further training leading to competence-based qualification of a practical nurse in Finland. A visit to the Philippines in the next few months by interested private sector groups is being discussed to help lay the groundwork for the official Philippine mission later in the year.
During her visit to Helsinki, Ambassador Collinson also attended the dinner hosted by Finnish President Tarja Halonen for accredited Ambassadors. END
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02
May 2008 – Philippine
Ambassador to Sweden Maria
Zeneida A. Collinson met with Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb, Minister of
Employment and the Economy Tarja Cronberg and several other high-ranking
officials responsible for health care and migration in a visit to Finland on
16-18 April. She, discussed
the Philippines readiness to be a partner in helping alleviate the critical
shortage of nurses and other healthcare professionals in Finland.