World Health Day 2025: A Spotlight on the Philippines’ Frontline Role in Global Health Diplomacy

Health Ministers and other global health leaders at the 7th Global Ministerial Summit on Patient Safety, hosted by the Philippines on 03-04 April 2025 at the Asian Development Bank

MANILA 07 April 2025 – On World Health Day 2025 on 07 April 2025, the Philippines celebrates not just the theme—“Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures”—but the country’s expanding role in global health diplomacy.

Under the leadership of Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Teodoro J. Herbosa, the country has elevated its international engagements in global health to new heights, championing equity and resilience on the world stage, while ensuring that this global leadership advances national priorities under the 8-Point Action Agenda of the Health Sector for 2023-2028 and drives meaningful health outcomes for all Filipinos.

In a remarkable year of milestones, the Philippines takes the helm as President of the 78th Session of the World Health Assembly (WHA) in May 2025 – the first Philippine presidency since the WHA’s inception in 1948 –  playing a central role in shaping global health priorities and solutions amidst evolving challenges in health cooperation.

In ongoing negotiations on the Pandemic Agreement, the Philippines works with like-minded states to champion equity in pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response, including advocating for promoting the rights and decent work of health and care workers.

Just last week, the DOH successfully hosted the 7th Global Ministerial Summit on Patient Safety from 03 to 04 April 2025, bringing together global health leaders from 75 countries to promote international collaboration and share best practices in patient safety. This follows the recent hosting of the Philippine-Pacific Partnership for a Sustainable Health Workforce and Health Security Conference held on 27-29 November 2024, which focused on strengthening cooperation to confront shared health challenges in the Pacific, including gaps in health system financing, governance, and the capacity of healthcare workforces.

In line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.’s directive to intensify the fight against tuberculosis, the Philippines also assumed the Chairship of the Stop TB Global Partnership for 2025–2027, leading global action while advancing national efforts against the disease.

Beyond these key roles, the Philippines, through the DOH, also represents the Western Pacific on the Pandemic Fund Governing Board, and holds seats on the UN Health4Life Fund Steering Committee, the UNAIDS Programme Coordinating Board, and the WHO Emergency Medical Teams Advisory Board. In 2024, the WHO verified three Philippine Emergency Medical Assistance Teams (PEMATs), marking the highest number ever validated from a single country within a year. These teams are deployed to provide critical medical and public health services during disasters and emergencies.

Strengthening Philippine bilateral ties, the DOH is actively engaging in and exploring new health cooperation initiatives with Jamaica, Palau, Micronesia, and the UK, among other states.

The Philippines has long been a reliable partner and innovative pathfinder in international cooperation. And today, it stands at the forefront of global health diplomacy, working actively with UN member states to shape the global health agenda and strengthen cooperation amidst emerging challenges. This new era of bold, outward-facing engagement reflects the Philippines’ continued commitment to multilateralism to build a more resilient, peaceful, inclusive, and healthy world for all. END

Philippine Permanent Representative to the WHO, Ambassador Carlos D. Sorreta (2nd from right) with WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (3rd from right) during the Briefing for the Group for Equity of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body to Draft and Negotiate a Pandemic Agreement

DOH Undersecretary Kenneth Ronquillo delivering the Philippine statement during Pandemic Agreement negotiations.