Text by Jennifer F. Manongdo
Photo by Office of the International and Local Linkages
Fresh from launching its Standard Treatment Guidelines for Primary Healthcare during its 11th National Health Day in July, Timor-Leste’s leaders, led by Ambassador Marciano Octavio Garcia da Silva and Dr. Florindo Pinto Gonzaga, director of Policy, Planning, Cooperation and Development, convened with academic leaders of the University of the Philippines Manila on Aug. 20, 2026, and discussed potential cooperation to strengthen the island country’s healthcare workforce through professional and specialized training in the Philippines.
The meeting, held via Zoom, sought to identify opportunities for Timorese health professionals to undertake medical specialty, postgraduate, advanced nursing, residency, and fellowship opportunities, and other health professional training at UP Manila and Philippine General Hospital.
The discussions also included admission and eligibility requirements for foreign health professionals, application procedures, professional credentials, documentation, and other institutional requirements.
Aside from these, the parties explored the capacity of teaching hospitals and medical centers to accommodate professional training and clinical placements. Registration and licensing requirements for foreign health professionals were also discussed in the meeting to help establish a practical pathway for Timorese health professionals who may want to pursue training in the Philippines.
“For our national strategic plan, we have a vision of expanding and strengthening the secondary and tertiary healthcare workforce. We aim to prioritize capacity building in specialist areas such as pediatrics, internal medicine, surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, anesthesiology, including other subspecialties,” Dr. Gonzaga said.
UP Manila leaders, led by Chancellor Michael Tee and Dr. Vivien Fe F. Fadrilan-Camacho, director of the UP Manila Office of International and Local Linkages, presented an overview of the university, its international and local linkages, and international recognitions for its academic programs.
Meanwhile, representatives from the UP College of Medicine, Philippine General Hospital, UP College of Nursing, and UP Manila Community Health Development Program presented their respective training programs.
The discussions also opened opportunities for a two-track partnership: training and capacity-building for Timor-Leste’s existing healthcare professionals, and education and training for future healthcare professionals.
For doctors already practicing in Timor-Leste, Chancellor Tee proposed a government-to-government coordination through the Department of Foreign Affairs for residency and fellow training opportunities in the Philippines.
The parties agreed to meet at a later date to discuss and finalize their areas of cooperation.
The online meeting was also attended by representatives from the Embassy and Timor-Leste’s Ministry of Health, including First Secretary Pedro Laranjeira and Technical Coordinator Sheila Freitas; and Ministry of Health officials Mary Christavaria Balok Lopes Brit, national director for Human Resources; Delfina Dewi Mendonça, head of the Human Resources Planning Department; and Madalena de Deus Soares, professional technician.
Other UP Manila and Philippine General Hospital representatives who joined the meeting were Community Health Development Program Director Dr. Anthony Geronimo H. Cordero; College of Medicine Associate Dean Dr. Ann Ong-Lim; Associate Dean for Academic Development Dr. Cecilia A. Jimeno; College Secretary Dr. Abner L. Chan; Acting College Secretary Dr. Mary Ann Abacan; College of Nursing Dean Dr. Sheila R. Bonito; UP-PGH Deputy Director for Training and Research Dr. Marie Dione P. Sacdalan; and staff members from the Office of International and Local Linkages and the College of Medicine.
Read More:
#FP1 #AccessibleUPLeadership
