Philippines - IOM and the Government of the Philippines have signed an agreement to collaborate on key actions related to the health of migrants. This move is designed to improve the health status of international migrants from and to the Philippines, as well as internally displaced persons by cooperating on the implementation of the World Health Assembly Resolution 61.17 on Migration Health.

Initiatives are expected in the areas of migrant health monitoring, provision of migrant-friendly health services, crafting of policy and legal frameworks, and partnership-building. The agreement will pave the way for a joint review on how various sectors in the Philippines are presently addressing the health of migrants, and where the priorities are.

At today’s signing ceremony in Manila, Secretary of Health, Dr. Enrique T Ona noted: “Recognizing that migration now is a social determinant for health, we have to further strengthen cooperation between national and local government agencies.” Mr. Marco Boasso, Chief of Mission, IOM Philippines said, “IOM stands ready to provide technical expertise and implementation support to the Department of Health in addressing the health and well-being vulnerabilities and challenges faced by Filipino migrants throughout the cycle of migration – before, during and upon return home, and their families left behind.”

IOM and the Government of the Philippines have long-standing relations, with an IOM office in the Philippines since 1975. IOM Philippines has engaged in several migration health initiatives, with the Department of Health (DOH) and other national migration health stakeholders. Most recently, after typhoon Bopha in December 2012, IOM has been implementing enhanced primary healthcare services and health referral mechanisms for selected typhoon-affected communities in Davao Oriental and Compostela Valley.  To date, about 4,151 patients have been attended by the IOM Medical Team in coordination with DOH. Earlier this year, upon agreement from the DOH Bureau of Health Facilities and Services, IOM Philippines’ Manila Health Centre started conducting immigration health assessments of visa applicants bound to Canada and the United Kingdom in accordance with the immigration health requirements of those countries.

For further information please contact

Dr. Poonam Dhavan
IOM Manila (Global) Administrative Centre
Email pdhavan@iom.int