Wafid system tightens well being checks for Filipinos searching for Center East jobs | ABS-CBN Information
RIYADH — Filipino workers aspiring to find employment in the Middle East may face an additional hurdle as the Gulf Cooperation Council strengthens the implementation of its Wafid medical examination program for prospective expatriate workers. Wafid, a program under the Gulf Health Council, facilitates standardized medical examinations for individuals seeking employment or residence in GCC countries. The program covers the six GCC member states — Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman and Kuwait — and includes the Philippines among the countries whose nationals are subject to the medical screening system.DFA, Omani Embassy to meet on mandatory HIV test for Filipino travelersThe GCC has recently stepped up coordination with Philippine authorities over the implementation of the Wafid program.
In August 2026, the GCC General Secretariat met with representatives of the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs, GCC health ministries, the Gulf Health Council, Philippine diplomatic missions and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration to discuss the program’s implementation and the medical screening of Filipino workers.According to the Gulf Health Council, Wafid aims to ensure that expatriates entering GCC countries for work or residence meet established medical fitness requirements while strengthening preventive health measures, including the detection of communicable diseases that could pose risks to public health.The system also seeks to standardize medical screening procedures across GCC countries.BOOKING FEEUnder the current Wafid online booking system, applicants are required to pay a fee when securing their medical examination appointment.A standard appointment costs $10, while a premium appointment costs $25.
The premium option provides applicants greater flexibility in selecting their preferred accredited medical center and examination date.The Wafid appointment fee is separate from the actual medical examination fee that may be charged by the accredited medical facility.For Filipinos preparing to work abroad, this means medical screening can add another out-of-pocket expense to an already costly overseas employment process, particularly for applicants who have to undergo additional examinations or repeat medical procedures.What assistance does government provide to repatriated OFWs?’MEDICALLY UNFIT’Under the official Wafid medical fitness criteria, certain medical findings may result in an applicant being declared medically unfit.These include evidence of active or previous tuberculosis, pulmonary fibrosis or pulmonary calcification, pleural effusion and certain other abnormal chest X-ray findings.The criteria also identify conditions such as renal or liver failure, heart failure, uncontrolled hypertension, uncontrolled diabetes, certain cancers and other medical conditions that may affect an applicant’s ability to work.However, not every applicant with hypertension, diabetes, excess weight or a previous lung finding is automatically classified as medically unfit.The official criteria specify particular medical conditions and, in the case of hypertension and diabetes, specifically refer to conditions that are uncontrolled.This distinction is important as information circulating on social media has claimed that conditions such as being overweight, having hypertension or diabetes, or having any lung scar automatically result in an “UNFIT” classification.POSSIBLE IMPACTFor Filipino applicants, the strengthened and standardized screening process could have a significant impact on the overseas employment process.Applicants must undergo medical examinations through the Wafid system, with appointments booked through the official online platform and examinations conducted at accredited medical centers.A medical finding that results in an applicant being declared unfit could prevent the worker from proceeding with employment in the intended GCC destination.
This makes the medical examination a critical stage of the recruitment and deployment process.The stricter and more standardized process could also mean additional expenses, preparation and waiting time for Filipinos hoping to secure jobs in the Middle East.For many aspiring overseas Filipino workers, these costs come on top of expenses associated with documentation, recruitment, transportation and other pre-departure requirements.The development is particularly significant for Filipinos who rely on overseas employment as a means of supporting their families, given the large number of Filipino workers employed across the GCC region.The GCC, however, maintains that the Wafid program is designed to strengthen health security, improve the quality and efficiency of expatriate medical screening, and ensure that foreign workers entering GCC countries meet established health and fitness requirements.As implementation of the Wafid system continues, prospective Filipino workers and recruitment agencies are urged to remain updated on official requirements and use accredited medical centers to avoid unnecessary expenses, delays and misinformation during the overseas employment process.
Source: www.abs-cbn.com
