The National University of Singapore’s Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health and the Philippines Department of Health have formalised a new partnership aimed at strengthening public health policy, research, and healthcare systems in the Philippines.
On 6 May 2026, Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health and Department of Health Philippines signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Manila, marking a major milestone in regional public health cooperation.
The agreement represents the first partnership between the Philippines Department of Health and the National University of Singapore. It also establishes the Philippines Partnership Programme, the third cross-country partnership initiative by NUS SSHSPH after similar collaborations with Cambodia and Laos.
The MoU was signed by Teodoro Herbosa, Secretary of Health of the Philippines, and Teo Yik Ying, Dean of NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health. The signing ceremony was witnessed by Logaventhan Karuppannan, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of Singapore to the Philippines.
Prof Teo Yik Ying reaffirmed NUS SSHSPH’s commitment to working closely with governments across Southeast Asia to strengthen public health systems through knowledge sharing, policy development, and implementation support. Secretary Herbosa highlighted the importance of leveraging the university’s expertise to improve evidence-based policymaking and health programme effectiveness in the Philippines.
The partnership will focus on three key pillars:
- Generating knowledge for health policy development and implementation
- Strengthening individual and institutional capacities within DOH Philippines
- Providing technical and policy advice through SSHSPH experts
Initial projects under the partnership include evaluating the impact of sugar and sweetened beverage taxation policies in the Philippines, creating an executive leadership programme for health officials, and establishing an advisory group of NUS experts to support policy discussions.
A dedicated Philippines Partnership Programme team will also be stationed in Manila within the DOH central office to strengthen coordination and collaboration with major health institutions and international organisations.
The initiative supports the implementation of the Philippines’ Universal Health Care Act and aligns with broader Sustainable Development Goals related to healthcare, international cooperation, and regional development.
Representatives from Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, World Health Organization Western Pacific Regional Office, and other health and research institutions also participated in discussions to explore future collaboration opportunities.
Source: National University of Singapore
