Philippines, Singapore partner for upskills training, ban on vape

In a bilateral meeting, health officials from the Philippines and Singapore discussed training for Filipino healthcare professionals, promoting a ban on vaping, and other potential areas for cooperation.

In a statement, Health Secretary Secretary Ted Herbosa met with Singapore Health Minister Ong Ye Kung, who expressed his gratitude for the "invaluable contributions of Filipino healthcare workers to Singapore's healthcare system."

The partnership will also include a "sustainable, innovative training model that enables Filipino healthcare professionals to pursue master’s degrees in Singapore."

The program aims to elevate the skills of Filipino healthcare professionals by "preparing them for a dynamic and forward-looking health system."

After finishing the training, graduates will then train the local healthcare workforce in the Philippines.

Herbosa, meanwhile, praised Singapore’s Ministry of Health for its "innovations in health promotion and its robust mechanisms for responding to health threats, specifically infectious diseases such as Hantavirus."

The two countries, according to a statement, aims to "strengthen strategic areas of cooperation, particularly on primary care, health promotion, healthcare human resource development, health infrastructure planning and policy, health regulation, health security, population health, digital health, and health financing."

"The bilateral meeting also provided a platform for both countries to affirm their respective health departments' efforts, particularly in responding to emerging diseases."

The health officials also discussed the advocacy for a vape ban among ASEAN member states. — BAP, GMA News