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Philippine–Pacific Health Initiative (PhilPac)
Weaving solidarity for human resources for health and stronger health systems in the Pacific
PhilPac represents a practical, scalable and solidarity-driven approach to addressing one the most critical constraints in global health systems – the health workforce.
It offers a pathway to translate regional vision into tangible impact, ensuring that even the smallest and most remote island nations can access a competent, motivated, and sustainable health workforce.
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Vision
A strong, resilient and future-ready health workforce across the Pacific.
Mission
To strengthen health workforce resilience in Pacific island countries and areas through strategic and intentional partnerships with the Philippines.
Objectives
PhilPac aims to strengthen health workforce resilience in Pacific Island Countries and areas through structured partnerships with the Philippines, enabling –
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Sustainable workforce systems
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Enhanced regional cooperation
The global health workforce faces a projected shortage of 11 million workers by 2030, with the World Health Organization (WHO) Western Pacific Region among the regions most affected.
Many Pacific Island Countries and areas (PICs) – including Kiribati, the Federated States of Micronesia, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu and Vanuatu – experience severe workforce vulnerabilities, driven by:
- chronic shortages and maldistribution
- high migration and turnover
- urban concentration of health workers
- limited training and career pathways.
These constraints undermine gains in noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), health security, climate resilience and primary health care. Energy uncertainties and extreme weather events further strain the fragile health workforce in the Pacific.
PhilPac components and implementation
THREE CORE COMPONENTS
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More opportunities for professional development
- Fellowships and health leadership development initiatives
- Advanced training for doctors, nurses and midwives, and other health workers
- Primary health-care training
- Short-term technical courses, for example, hypertension, diabetes, HIV, oral health
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Learning from each other through partnerships of institutions
- Twinning of hospitals and training institutions
- Curriculum development, co-learning platforms and online programmes
- Health workforce policy and planning support
- Development of workforce data and monitoring systems
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Implementing collaboratively for regional impact
- Scaling up NCD innovations that work
- Enabling referral pathways and patient mobility, including visa facilitation
- Conferences, workshops and regional learning networks
The global health workforce faces a projected shortage of 11 million workers by 2030, with the World Health Organization (WHO) Western Pacific Region among the regions most affected.
Many Pacific Island Countries and areas (PICs) – including Kiribati, the Federated States of Micronesia, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu and Vanuatu – experience severe workforce vulnerabilities, driven by:
- chronic shortages and maldistribution
- high migration and turnover
- urban concentration of health workers
- limited training and career pathways.
These constraints undermine gains in noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), health security, climate resilience and primary health care. Energy uncertainties and extreme weather events further strain the fragile health workforce in the Pacific.
Ten modalities for collaboration through PhilPac
Professional growth and leadership development, including fellowships
Support for professional growth and development
Twinning arrangements
Institutional partnerships of health facilities and research or training institutions
Training and capacity-building on-site
Programmes for human resources for health development in a PICs setting
Support for emergencies, preparedness and response, including emergency medical teams
Medical/surgical referrals
Facilitating the referral of overseas patients to a Philippines hospital for medical or surgical care.
Deployment of medical teams
Support for acute shortages in a health facility or setting
Sister Islands Programme
Two-year workplan for Pacific islands and the Philippines
Technical assistance
Deployment of experts to support policies and programmes, including curriculum
Field visits/exchange programmes
Exploratory visits to Philippine health institutions to explore programmes and initiatives that can be adapted in other island nations.
Visa support, protocol and regulatory requirements
Facilitation of official documentation and endorsements required for travel to the Philippines for PhilPac activities
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Building on this call for solidarity, PhilPac was conceptualized to address acute and strategic problems in the development of human resources for health across the Pacific. Initiated by the Philippines, it represents a new model of South-South and regional cooperation grounded in solidarity, mutual learning and sustainability.
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As a joint initiative of Philippines Health Secretary Teodoro J. Herbosa and WHO Regional Director Saia Ma'u Piukala, a networking platform was established in November 2024 to advance hand-in-hand solidarity for health workforce development.
Way forward
PhilPac will focus on:
- Expanding fellowship and exchange programmes
- Scaling institutional partnerships
- Strengthening workforce data and governance
- Mobilizing technical and financial support
- Aligning with regional priorities and country demand
Key policy insight: Sister Islands Programme
Systems for human resources for health of island health systems cannot be miniature versions of those in larger countries. The context, resource-base and constraints of the health systems of island nations are significantly different from those of large nations.
The Philippines is developing its own systems approach to human resources for health in island settings. This effort revolves around pragmatic approaches with fit-for-purpose programmes that enable health systems to meet needs within reasonable expectations, based on available human resources working with appropriate technology. Primary health care is key. Referral systems would need to be strengthened.
PhilPac provides an opportunity for individual Philippine islands to work with sister islands in the Pacific over a two-year period in highly contextualized environments.
A regional opportunity: the Philippines calls for solidarity
The Philippines is uniquely positioned to support the Pacific through:
- Its high standards for training of health workers who are caring and responsive to the needs of patients
- Its role as a leading global source of doctors and nurses
- Its proximity to PICs
- Its active leadership in global health policy, including World Health Assembly resolution WHA78.16 on Accelerating Action on the Global Health and Care Workforce by 2030 and Executive Board decision EB153(7) on the WHO Global Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel.