Having syphilis antibodies is not allowed to work in Korea?

Mr. T. said he had contracted the disease 7 years ago, was cured and had donated blood many times - Photo: TRUONG TRUNG

Rejected because the hospital did not recognize the results

Mr. TBT (in Da Nang) said that he intended to work in Korea, so from 2022 he started taking the Korean language test and health check to register for the EPS program. The health check results and other conditions were guaranteed, so in July 2023, he was called by his employer in Korea.

He was sent to school by the Overseas Labor Center (Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs) and had his health checked again. Here, he was examined by Trang An General Hospital, and according to the announcement on July 11, he was concluded to be positive for syphilis.

On July 27, Trang An Hospital sent a document informing him that he did not meet the health requirements of the program. Based on this result, the center announced that the EPS program would be terminated for him due to health reasons.

In early 2024, he was called by another employer in Korea. He went to many hospitals in Da Nang to get tested for syphilis and the results were negative.

However, in February 2024, he was tested by the EPS program and the test results were still positive for syphilis.

According to the Overseas Labor Center, based on the health conditions of workers participating in the EPS program, Mr. T. does not meet the health requirements to participate.

According to the response document of this center, Trang An Hospital also affirmed that it does not recognize the health examination results that employees self-examine at other hospitals, but only recognizes the health examination results of the Central Dermatology Hospital.

A Korean proficiency test in the EPS program - Photo: TRUONG TRUNG

Cured, only antibodies left, once donated blood

According to Mr. T., 7 years ago he contracted syphilis unintentionally and was cured immediately. He did not hide this and told his teachers directly.

"I have been tested at many hospitals in Da Nang. The test results showed that my body only had antibodies. I also tested many times and donated blood many times. The RPR test results were all negative. The TPHA test result at the Central Dermatology Hospital was positive," said Mr. T.

"The doctor said that I had syphilis, so when I was cured, I had antibodies against syphilis bacteria to protect me. At the same time, he said that with this index, I am now completely free of the disease and unlikely to be contagious. But it was not recognized," Mr. T. added.

Mr. T. said that for more than 2 years he has focused on the goal of exporting labor, so he is very disappointed that he cannot go.

A representative of Hospital 199 (Ministry of Public Security in Da Nang) said that for syphilis, testing when exporting labor will usually be done with a pre-screening test, i.e. RPR. If negative, that's it, if positive, then TPHA will be done.

"With syphilis, after contracting the disease and being cured, the body will create antibodies to prevent it. The TPHA test results show the antibody index. This index can gradually decrease and then disappear, or persist for life and not return to negative," this person said.

The Da Nang Dermatology Hospital also responded with similar content. Accordingly, a negative RPR test result shows that the case of "syphilis has been cured". A positive TPHA result shows that the body has antibodies to this disease (serum scar).

"Our test results are neutral, but the management only works at the highest level and stipulates that the results from whichever testing facility is used must be used," he said.

Similarly, Hospital 199 believes that it is necessary to compare the EPS program regulations related to health guidelines that clearly state "having had syphilis" or "currently having syphilis" as a basis for health for workers going abroad.

Da Nang proposes to create favorable conditions

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Nam, Deputy Director of the Department of Labor - Invalids and Social Affairs of Da Nang, said that the unit recently had a working session with Mr. T.. After reviewing Mr. T.'s profile and related documents, the unit sent a document to the relevant units.

"We have proposed to support and create conditions for Mr. T. to continue participating in the EPS program. Accordingly, Mr. T. will commit that if he goes to Korea and the other side requires a health check and he does not meet the prescribed standards and is forced to leave the country and return, he will return to Vietnam on his own. All costs will be his own responsibility and will not be related to the sending agency," said Mr. Nam.

Should be specific regarding diseases such as syphilis

A doctor specializing in hematology and blood transfusion said that he had also consulted many cases similar to Mr. T.. He said that if workers were denied export just because they "had antibodies" or "had the disease but recovered", it would be very disadvantageous for them.

Accordingly, in this case, if it is mandatory to go abroad to work, it is possible to combine other test results related to syphilis and explanatory documents from the hospital, and should not insist on refusing people who have recovered from the disease.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/co-khang-the-benh-giang-mai-khong-duoc-sang-han-lao-dong-20240418092412531.htm