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.

“The first part of the meeting was about India’s healthcare system — how they cover about 600 million people for maternal care, hypertension checkups, breast, oral and cervical cancer screening,” said Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Teodoro Herbosa, who was present at the meeting.

Herbosa noted India’s use of ASHA workers, or Accredited Social Health Activists, who serve a similar role to Filipino barangay health workers in helping communities access healthcare.

“It’s a model we can look at. They also have a good telemedicine system,” he added.

Herbosa said he handed 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).

“He [Minister Nadda] said, ‘Let’s prioritize this, and we will help you,’” Herbosa quoted him as saying.

Also discussed were the growing number of Indian medical students studying in the Philippines and India’s interest in the Philippines’ cost-effective and high-quality liver transplant services.

“I’m very happy that we now have a Strategic Partnership with India. They are global leaders in healthcare,” Herbosa said.

“Just as the Philippines is known for its nurses, India is known for its doctors.”

Herbosa recalled his training days in Chicago, where he worked closely with many Indian physicians.

“They were among the best — intelligent, dedicated, and world-class. I hope we can learn from India’s experience to improve our own health system,” he said.

India, under the BJP-led government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi since 2014, has become one of the world’s largest providers of generic medicines and healthcare services, and has developed expansive public health schemes that reach hundreds of millions.

The meeting is part of Marcos’ five-day state visit to India, which also saw the formal elevation of Philippines–India relations to a Strategic Partnership. (PNA)