The Department of Health (DOH), with support from the World Health Organization (WHO) Representative Office to the Philippines, wrapped up a week-long study tour in Beijing and Suzhou China aimed at strengthening the country’s digital health capacity.
Held from 23–27 June 2025, the delegation toured the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the WHO Collaborating Center for Digital Health under the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT), and the Tianjin Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine — a hospital using artificial intelligence (AI) for disease screening, diagnosis, and treatment.
Aligned with the DOH’s 2023–2028 National Objectives for Health, the visit brought Philippine health leaders to learn from countries with advanced digital health ecosystems focusing on big data utilization for smart governance, interoperability of health information systems, and AI applications to improve service delivery.
In Beijing, specialists and experts from CDC and WHO explored international cooperation and identified areas for joint action with health leaders from the Philippines. At CAICT, participants exchanged insights on the digital health landscape in the Philippines and explored innovations showcased at the AI for Health exhibit. Lastly in Suzhou, the delegation met with the City Health Commission and Chinese CDC to review the current digital tools for disease control, data management, and integrated healthcare. Discussions also covered policy, planning, and IT infrastructure for health systems.
“This is a strategic opportunity for the Philippines to learn from countries that he successfully leveraged digital technologies to improve healthcare delivery and system responsiveness. Through this engagement, we are refining the country’s health information system while strengthening our partnership with countries in the Western Pacific Region” said Dr Eunyoung Ko, Acting WHO Representative to the Philippines.
The tour, which is the first in a series of learning exchanges, is expected to enhance the Philippines’ capacity to integrate health information systems, apply AI tools, and strengthen international partnerships, ping the way for a more data-driven, equitable, and resilient healthcare system.