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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider ASEAN must work with India to ensure enough supply of vaccines, medicines — PBBM

ASEAN must work with India to ensure enough supply of vaccines, medicines — PBBM

Published Nov 12, 2022 03:41 pm

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia—Southeast Asian nations must work closely with India in terms of securing affordable vaccines and medicines for their citizens as the whole world is still facing health challenges.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. made the call on fellow members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) during the 19th ASEAN-India Summit here.

In his intervention on Friday, the President said it is now a matter of great urgency for ASEAN governments to ensure better access to health services alongside medicines and vaccines as the world is recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Photo courtesy of the Office of the Press Secretary

He said ASEAN countries must not "miss the opportunity of having the 'pharmacy of the world' as our close neighbor and partner.

"The high cost of life-saving medicines and vaccines are barriers to a healthy population," he said.

"Let us work closely with India in ensuring that our region has access to a sufficient volume of affordable, high-quality medicines and vaccines," he added.

Deepened engagement with India on the blue economy must also be pushed, Marcos said, citing that the Indo-Pacific region already becomes a theater of geopolitics and geoeconomics.

According to the President, ministers and senior officials should find the intersection between maritime security and economic prosperity cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, which should be balanced by shared concern of preventing further environmental degradation allowing the region’s marine ecosystem to thrive.

"We cannot move towards a blue economy if our oceans cannot support sustainable vibrant life," he said.

Regarding climate change, Marcos encouraged India's continued support for the work of the ASEAN Center for Biodiversity in mitigating biodiversity loss through management of ASEAN heritage parks.

While addressing the issue on fluctuations in rice and fertilizer supply and prices, Marcos said he was looking forward to working with India towards the implementation of the "ASEAN Multi-sectoral Framework on Climate Change: Agriculture and Forestry contributing to Food Security and Sustainable Development Goals."

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