The Medical Examination Experience Extraordinaire.

The things that an OFW have to undergo through just to get the employment requirements over.

Filipinos who are bound for overseas to work or as a tourist have to undergo a thorough medical examination to secure the visa. I, who is bound for Brunei, of course, have to go through this tedious, tiresome and embarrassing procedure.

The medical examination involves a lot of steps and costs a lot of money. I paid over Php3,000 for this medical. The Brunei Embassy referred me to BDAAC (Brunei Darussalam Association of Accredited Clinics) which then referred me to L-R Medical and X-ray Clinic in Buendia. The clinic is well organized. I was in the clinic at 8am and finished the whole process before lunch.

These are the things to remember when going through this kind of medical exam:

1. Bring a pea-size stool in a discreet small container. When i say discreet, have at least the label cover the whole container to hide the stool or put the stool in a black bottle or something. I saw the box where they put the surrendered stools, and mah gosh, some put it in a very very clear container with their stool happily displayed for everyone to see. Anyway, make sure that the stool is only an hour old when you surrender it to the clinic.

2. Make sure you’re well rested before you take the medical exam. The lack of sleep or stress may affect your exam results. Which happened to me. More on that below.

3. If you have a tooth that needs filling. Have it filled by your dentist before your medical exam. Otherwise, the clinic will be the one to fill it up for you and it might cost you a lot.

4. If you’re over 40 years old, you are required for a ECG. This costs a lot as well.

5. In the audiometry, BE VERY ATTENTIVE! In my clinic, the audiometer machine is inside a lounge with a television. I don’t know why that is the case. But maybe it is to test if you can determine the difference of monotones to noise, I don’t know. And guess what happened to my audiometry exam? I FAILED. My right ear is in moderate to severe condition that I may need to use a hearing aid. I was like WHAT THE FUCK??

Anyway, they told me that I can retake the audiometry. I took it the day after, when I am fully rested, well prepared and very attentive. (I took my medical exam after a shift in the call center and was very tired and inattentive. Maybe thats the reason I failed.) I passed.

6. Bring your eyeglasses if you have one. Me? I don’t have one. And guess what? Mah eyes is 20/20. @_@ YEAH!

7. Wear a decent underwear. The attending physician will examine your asshole. My doctor had me bend down and open my butt cheeks so that she can see my asshole. Not a very pleasant experience, but the good thing is the doctor is a woman. If you’re a guy the physician will examine your scrotum.

8. Prepare for a long written psychological exam. Some of the questions are very funny but try to keep your answers as professional as possible. Wag kayong pilosopo at baka bumaksak kayo.

9. And prepare for a set of vaccines. I only had two, tetanus and Hepatitis B shots. Other examinees took four shots. And it hurts, I tell you, IT HURTS!

10. When everything is done you will get a medical certificate along with the exam results. Make sure that the clinic will provide you all necessary documents especially the certificate and some certified true copy of it. You will need it.

Now with everything complete, go to the embassy and bring the medical certificate along with other requirements. That is if medical certificate shows that you are FIT TO WORK. Musta naman diba.