This issue focused on a meeting between Health Secretary Edwin Mercado and WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Discussions covered regional stockpiles of medical supplies, joint procurement, further regulatory mechanisms, initiatives to expand universal health coverage, and national emergency response capacity.

Both officials also examined disease control, childhood vaccination, and programs addressing hypertension, smoking, and mental health issues.

Mercado thanked Tedros for his attention to the Philippines’ concerns on the migration of healthcare personnel, the purchase of medicines, and disease monitoring.

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