This week at an event in the Philippines, we celebrated the ambitious launch of several new partnerships, recognitions of the OET Test, industry collaborations, and our first global ambassadorship. The event, ‘Advancing Healthcare Communication in the Philippines: OET’s Role in Enabling Collaboration’, was the first of its kind for OET in the country and united more than 90 healthcare and education industry leaders.

Our CEO Sujata Stead, along with Regional Director Tom Keenan and Regional Manager Krizelle Kilicaslan, steered the event. Along with industry thought leaders, they welcomed government officials including the Chair of Senate Committee on Health, Sen. Christopher Lawrence Go, the Deputy Administrator of Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, Mr. Arnell Ignacio, and the UK Ambassador, Ms. Laure Beaufil.

The event highlighted OET’s latest collaborations with the Philippine Nurses Association (PNA), Dr. Carl Balita Group of Companies, and several Philippine universities aiming to equip Filipino healthcare workers with world-class language skills and extended career opportunities abroad. By setting the global benchmark for workplace medical English, OET aims to empower Filipino talent and connect opportunities abroad while elevating the quality of healthcare in the Philippines.

“At OET our goal is to enable healthcare professionals to have the English language and communication abilities required to provide exceptional and safe care wherever they choose to work,” said Ms Stead.

"We are honoured to collaborate with outstanding local partners to support Filipino healthcare workers in furthering their careers while advancing healthcare access and outcomes across the Philippines," she added.

The partnerships are poised to launch various initiatives that will improve Filipino medical professionals' English proficiency, allowing them to confidently use English in healthcare settings and prepare for licensure examinations. Future CPD-accredited seminars on OET’s expert-developed English language learning at minimal to no cost are also on the horizon, aiming to elevate the English communication competency of healthcare service providers.

"Through our partnerships with local medical organizations, we're delivering healthcare workers the tools to connect with patients, understand their needs, and provide care that transcends cultural barriers. It's about empowering our Filipino healthcare professionals with the confidence to thrive in any environment. This is what drives us at OET – turning language proficiency into a bridge for better healthcare." said Krizelle Kilicaslan, Regional Manager at OET.

We were also thrilled to kick off the global ambassadorship of May Parsons, the Filipina nurse who administered the world’s first COVID-19 vaccine. This partnership signifies a crucial step toward enabling Philippine nurses, physical therapists, and other medical professionals to access internationally recognized training development and English proficiency certifications.

"Ensuring patient safety and delivering quality care means healthcare workers must have an excellent command of medical English, whether working locally or abroad. I'm excited to team up with OET to help advance career opportunities for fellow Filipino healthcare professionals," said May Parsons, OET global ambassador.

We are committed to supporting May in this collaboration in the aim to inspire thousands of Filipino healthcare workers to realise their full potential in local and global healthcare settings. May will join several upcoming events for OET Test candidates in the region, as well as share her story via our social media platforms.

As the provider of the leading English language test designed specifically for healthcare, we have set the global benchmark for workplace medical English. Hundreds of thousands of healthcare professionals in more than 100 countries have benefited from taking the OET Test, equipping them with world-class language expertise that aligns with international standards. The future of healthcare in the Philippines is bright, and we look forward to continuing our support of medical professionals and healthcare organisations in the region with partnerships like those announced this week.