2023-2028 Philippine Migrant Health Network (PMHN) Strategic Plan Fully Approved During the 16th PMHN Meeting

08 April 2024 – The Department of Health (DOH), through the Migrant Health Unit of the Bureau of International Health Cooperation (BIHC), organized the 16th PMHN Meeting last April 03, 2024 at the Swiss-Belhotel Blulane, Sta Cruz, Manila. The meeting was attended by more than 70 participants from different government and non-government agencies, as well as the academe, civil society organizations, the private sector and international organizations.

The meeting was opened by Dr. Leonita P. Gorgolon, Assistant Secretary of the UHC – Policy and Strategy Cluster of DOH, who was in awe of the network’s decade-long dedication in ensuring that the health of migrants is not forgotten in our goal for universal health care. She applauded the network for developing the 2023-2028 PMHN Strategic Plan noting its alignment to the Secretary of Health’s 8-Point Action Agenda. This Action Agenda sets the overall policy direction for the health sector to guide planning and prioritization.

The meeting witnessed the endorsement of the new PMHN Steering Committee Members for the implementation of the 2023-2028 PMHN Strategic Plan. The DOH, through the BIHC, serves as the PMHN Chairperson. The Philippine Migrant Rights Watch remains as the PMHN Vice-Chairperson for the duration of the Strategic Plan. The members of the PMHN Steering Committee comprise the lead agencies of the different Technical Working Groups (TWGs): (1) Migrant Health Service Delivery and Localization TWG, (a) Department of Migrant Workers, (b) Kabalikat ng Migranteng Pilipino, Inc., (c) OFW Hospital; (2) Migrant Health Advocacy and Promotion TWG, (a) Blas Ople Policy Center & Training Institute, Inc., (b) Commission on Filipinos Overseas, (c) Kapisanan ng mga Kamag-Anak ng Migranteng Manggagawang Pilipino; (3) Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning TWG, (a) Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Council for Health Research and Development, (b) UP Manila-College of Public Health, (c) International Organization for Migration.

The highlight of the meeting was the approval of the 2023-2028 PMHN Strategic Plan. The Plan will guide the Network in promoting the health and welfare of migrants and their families. The different PMHN TWGs also crafted the 2024 PMHN Annual Work Plan which outlines the areas that the network will prioritize for the year. These areas include: (1) Creating a Handbook of services offered by PMHN members; (2) Revision of the PMHN Communication Plan; (3) Updating the Health and Safety Module of the Pre-Deployment Orientation Seminar; (4) Creating a Compendium of Migrant Health Data; (5) Creating a Bibliography Review of Migrant Health Related Research; (6) Conducting at least 1 Migrant Health Related Research; and (7) Policy Dissemination of Migrant Health Research.

The meeting also took stock of the recent developments and exchanged updates on various sectoral efforts and initiatives in the field of migration and health, such as: (1) Updates on the 2023 activities of the celebration of the Month of Overseas Filipinos; (2) Filipinas Ultramar: Philippines Beyond Borders – Towards a National Consensus on the Philippine Diaspora; (3) Patterns of Detection and Treatment of Mental and Behavioral Disorders among OFWs; (4) Acceptability of Telepsychiatry among Overseas Filipino Workers in Kuwait; and (5) Migrant Health Program of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao. Lastly, Ms. Carmelita Nuqui, PMHN Vice-Chairperson, concluded the meeting by acknowledging the dedication of the PMHN members to the network. She thanked everyone in attendance for a very informative meeting and praised everyone’s active participation which continued until the end of the session.