The Philippines and Singapore have strengthened bilateral healthcare cooperation through a new Memorandum of Understanding focused on public health, workforce development, digital health, and regional health security.
On 18 May 2026, the Philippines and Singapore officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Health Cooperation, reaffirming both countries’ commitment to strengthening collaboration in the healthcare sector.
The agreement builds upon the earlier 2024 MOU on the Recruitment of Filipino Healthcare Workers signed between the Department of Migrant Workers of the Republic of the Philippines and the Ministry of Health Singapore.
The new MOU seeks to enhance cooperation in strategic areas including primary care, health promotion, healthcare human resource development, health infrastructure planning and policy, health regulation, health security, population health, digital health, and healthcare financing.
The bilateral discussions also provided an opportunity for both countries to reaffirm their commitment to improving preparedness and response efforts against emerging infectious diseases and future public health threats.
Teodoro Herbosa, Secretary of Health of the Philippines, praised Singapore’s healthcare system for its innovations in health promotion and strong response mechanisms against health threats, particularly infectious diseases such as Hantavirus.
Meanwhile, Ong Ye Kung, Minister for Health of Singapore, expressed appreciation for the valuable contributions made by Filipino healthcare workers to Singapore’s healthcare sector.
A key component of the partnership is a sustainable and innovative training model that will allow Filipino healthcare professionals to pursue master’s degree programmes in Singapore. The initiative aims to strengthen their expertise and prepare them for a more advanced and future-ready healthcare system.
Upon returning to the Philippines, these healthcare professionals are expected to support the Department of Health through training and upskilling programmes for the local healthcare workforce.
Both leaders also explored potential cooperation in advocating stronger vape control measures among ASEAN member states, reflecting the shared commitment of the Philippines and Singapore to protecting public health across the region.
The partnership further supports broader goals related to ASEAN cooperation, healthcare innovation, workforce capacity building, and sustainable public health development.
Source: Philippine Embassy in Singapore
