Building health workforce links between Papua New Guinea and the Philippines through PhilPac

Manila, Philippines — Behind every stronger health system are the people who teach, learn and serve in communities. Through the Philippine-Pacific Health Initiative (PhilPac), leaders from Papua New Guinea and the Philippines came together to share practical ways to prepare more health workers for the needs of Pacific communities.

The week-long exchange connected senior officials from Papua New Guinea’s National Department of Health and academic leaders from the University of Papua New Guinea with Philippine health institutions, including the Department of Health, University of the Philippines Manila, Philippine General Hospital, the Philippine Heart Center and Parañaque City Health Centre.

Participants discussed how training, mentoring, clinical experience and digital tools can help future doctors, nurses and other health workers serve closer to where people live. A meeting with Philippine Secretary of Health Dr Teodoro J. Herbosa underscored South-South collaboration, regional solidarity and fit-for-purpose workforce development.

Partners also explored a proposed Memorandum of Understanding on Health Cooperation to support continuing exchanges among schools, hospitals, specialist centres and local health systems. The visit showed how countries in the Western Pacific can learn from one another, strengthen institutions and work together so that more families can access quality care.