REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The Indonesian government will establish an institution to assess and issue certify nurses who plan to work abroad.

It will help the paramedics improve their quality.

"Of course, there should be international recognition for our nurses and care givers to work abroad," Health Minister Nila F Moeloek said here on Tuesday.

She said presently, many friendly countries want nurses and care givers from Indonesia to work there.

"Countries like the United States and Qatar, are asking to recruit our nurses" she added.

Head of the National Agency for Placement and Protection of Indonesian Workers (BNP2TKI) Nusron Wahid said Indonesia has a large number of nurses and care givers and the government can easily allow them to work abroad.

However, he added, the international standard certification for nursing personnel was a problem since the Indonesian government cannot issue these as of now.

"We need to explore and establish cooperation with institutions abroad so that we can have an institution in the country that is equipped to issue the certification," Nusron explained.

Meanwhile, Indonesian nurses and caregivers must take certification classes from the Philippines in order to work abroad legally.

If they fail to obtain certification from Philippines, many of them are seen as working abroad illegally.

"They are required to go to the Philippines, and stay there for 4-6 months for the certification. Many of them are unable to pass the assessment. They, then resort to work illegally," Nusron said.

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