The Philippines and the United Arab Emirates are working toward establishing a formal health insurance arrangement that would extend coverage to Filipino workers in the Gulf state, according to the Department of Health.
It is said that the initiative marks a significant step in enhancing protection for one of the Philippines’ largest overseas worker populations.
The talks are part of the Philippines President Marcos Jr. administration’s broader push to strengthen the welfare of overseas Filipino workers through government-to-government cooperation, complementing existing measures such as the expanded Migrant Workers Act and PhilHealth’s overseas membership programme.
Both sides also highlighted the urgent need to improve health education for overseas Filipino workers, especially on non-communicable diseases such as hypertension and diabetes. Officials noted that these conditions are often overlooked by Filipinos working abroad, as many tend to prioritise income over their personal health.