The Philippines and Thailand have signed a partnership pact for the implementation of a scholarship program that seeks to benefit Filipino health professionals.
Department of Science and Health Secretary Fortunato “Boy” T. de la Peña said the memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed on Dec. 15 between the DOST-Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD) and the Faculty of Tropical Medicine (FTM) of the Mahidol University (SEAMEO TROPMED Thailand).
Founded in 1966, SEAMEO TROPMED is a regional cooperation network that serves as a focal point in higher education and research in tropical medicine and public health.
Under the MOU, the DOST-PCHRD and Mahidol University, an autonomous research institution in Thailand, “will carry out scientific and technological cooperation through the development, implementation, and administration of a scholarship program, as well as the promotion of collaboration between other relevant scientific institutions and organizations from both countries,” de la Peña said.
He said the areas of joint undertaking were tropical diseases epidemiologic studies, endemic and emerging diseases, diagnosis of tropical infections and tropical medicine and public health.
“The partnership will significantly contribute in building expanded capacities in the field and achieving our overall STI (science, technology, innovation) goals."
DOST-PCHRD Executive Director Dr. Jaime C. Montoya described the new partnership as a strategic approach amid the growing scope and complexity of health and related research.
De la Peña cited SEAMEO TROPMED’s commitment to support the partnership. SEAMEO TROPMED expressed hope that the MOU will provide more opportunities for Filipino health professionals to attend post graduate degree program in Tropical Medicine in Thailand.
The MOU will serve as a model to other SEAMEO member countries with regard to tapping resources in strengthening health resource development efforts and in contributing to the attainment of the network’s mission, the regional network in Tropical Medicine and Public Health under the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization said.
The network’s mission “is to promote health and to prevent diseases through training and research, scientific fora, publications and information dissemination, personnel exchanges, institutional partnerships, and technical consultant services.”