Nearly 350 already trained health-care workers from the Philippines have been offered letters of intent after a recruitment mission to the country last month, the Manitoba health minister says.
Audrey Gordon said the letters were given to nearly 190 registered nurses, 50 people who are the equivalent of licensed practical nurses and 110 health-care aides during the province’s five-day trip to Manila, Cebu City and Iloilo from Feb. 21 to 25.
“This significantly exceeded our goal and expectations, and I look forward to welcoming those health-care professionals into the health system here in Manitoba,” she said at a news conference on Wednesday.
During the five-day trip, clinical leaders and human resource professionals interviewed more than 400 applicants who were prescreened to ensure they had a bachelor’s degree in nursing and a minimum of two years of experience in acute care or care of the elderly, said Ken Borce, chief of clinical operations at Cancer Care Manitoba, who took part in the recruitment mission.