New delhi: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday met with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Chair and Indian Health and Family Welfare Minister Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda in New Delhi, with both sides exploring stronger cooperation in the health sector. The meeting, held during a courtesy call at the Taj Mahal Hotel in New Delhi, focused on India’s proposal to pursue broader health collaboration with the Philippines, including the exchange of best practices that could be implemented in the Philippine health system.

According to Philippines News Agency, Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Teodoro Herbosa, who was present at the meeting, discussed the initial focus on India’s healthcare system, which covers approximately 600 million people for maternal care, hypertension checkups, and cancer screenings. Herbosa highlighted the role of India’s ASHA workers, or Accredited Social Health Activists, who assist communities in accessing healthcare, similar to Filipino barangay health workers.

Herbosa mentioned India’s effective telemedicine system as a potential model for the Philippines. He also handed Minister Nadda a copy of the signed memorandum of understanding between India’s National Institute of Ayurveda and the Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care (PITAHC). Minister Nadda expressed a willingness to prioritize and support this collaboration.

The meeting also addressed the increasing number of Indian medical students in the Philippines and India’s interest in the Philippines’ cost-effective and high-quality liver transplant services. Herbosa expressed satisfaction with the newly established Strategic Partnership with India, acknowledging India’s global leadership in healthcare.

Herbosa reflected on his training in Chicago, where he worked alongside many Indian physicians, describing them as intelligent, dedicated, and world-class. He emphasized the potential for the Philippines to learn from India’s healthcare experience to enhance its own system.

Under the BJP-led government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi since 2014, India has emerged as one of the world’s largest providers of generic medicines and healthcare services, with expansive public health schemes reaching hundreds of millions. The meeting with Minister Nadda is part of President Marcos’ five-day state visit to India, which also marked the formal elevation of Philippines-India relations to a Strategic Partnership.