NEW DELHI – The Philippines and India have agreed to come up with guidelines on cooperation in the pharmaceutical sector by March to ensure that Filipinos will have access to cheap medicine.
President Duterte cited the need for such an agreement during his meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi last Wednesday here.
“President Duterte expressed an interest and his desire for greater cooperation with India in the pharmaceutical sector and agreed that a joint working group meeting could be set up in March to finalize the details,” Indian Secretary of Ministry of External Affairs Preeti Saran said in a press briefing last Thursday.
Duterte also raised the issue during his first bilateral meeting with Modi in the Philippines last November.
He told Modi that he was hopeful that Indian pharmaceutical firms would invest in the Philippines so that Filipinos can buy cheap medicines.
Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said some Indian medicine manufacturers are interested to invest in the Philippines.
“It’s highlighted that the medicines coming from India are not only affordable but also with high efficacy, very effective,” Lopez told reporters last Thursday.
Duterte seeks stronger trade, defense ties
Duterte reiterated the need for stronger regional cooperation on defense and trade during the plenary session of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) - India Commemorative Summit last Thursday.
“(President Duterte) in the plenary pushed for regional and multilateral cooperation to address terrorist financing to prevent violent extremism and the importance of timely intelligence gathering and analysis,” presidential spokesman Harry Roque said.
“He invited India to invest in submersible cables and port facilities as well as he encouraged, mentioned that we should intensify ASEAN-India trade and economic integration through free trade area,” he said.
Roque said Duterte also encouraged India to collaborate with ASEAN in promoting the rights of migrant workers and called for stronger cooperation in biodiversity conservation and management.
Duterte also cited the need to conclude the ASEAN-India transport agreements to boost aviation and maritime connectivity.