MANILA, Philippines — The Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) Hospital will now source most of its medicines, equipment, and supplies through the Philippine Pharma Procurement Inc. (PPPI) in a move expected to strengthen primary healthcare for migrant workers and their families.

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and PPPI formalized the partnership on Tuesdayat the agency’s head office in Ortigas.

DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said the agreement supported President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s priority on health and overseas workers, noting that the OFW Hospital has become a place where dependents of migrant workers, including elderly parents, proudly say they are cared for because of their children abroad.

“Primary healthcare, primary delivery of health services to OFWs has become stronger and more meaningful,” Cacdac said, adding that patients often request such support from the government.

Dr. Goldwin Posadas of the OFW Hospital told The Manila Times that the partnership would ensure the availability of essential medicines.

“We’ll make sure that the essential medicines are available. That’s what’s good about this partnership, because before, we had some challenges with procuring medicines that fast,” he said.

“And of course, when the patient asks, why don’t you have this medicine, or that medicine, our answer is, we’ll buy more. And with this agreement, we’ll buy faster. If it’s fast, there’s a higher chance that the medicine will be prescribed to them by the doctor. That’s what we did,” Posadas added.

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He said about 70 percent of the facility’s procurement will be transferred to PPPI, easing delays and allowing the hospital to focus on patient care.

DMW, pharmaceutical firm sign agreement to boost access to medicines, hospital services for OFWs, families

The agreement’s second phase will be the launch of a botika at bakuna para sa mamamayan (BBM) pharmacy in May 2026, while talks are also underway for the country’s first medical waste reduction facility in a public hospital.

The planned waste facility aims to cut 80 percent of medical waste and could also serve regional and community hospitals.

Cacdac, PPPI president and CEO Maria Blanca Kim Lokin, PPPI vice president for administration Josefina Leona Riel, and Posadas witnessed the signing.