MANILA -- President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday raised the need to further strengthen the collaboration between the public and private sectors to improve the country’s health sector.

This comes after he met with representatives of the healthcare cluster of the Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC).

In the meeting, the President tasked the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to check “best practices” and include digitalization initiatives for improving health insurance operations and offering health benefits.

Strengthening public-private partnerships coupled with strong third-party assessments, the President said, will address efficiency concerns in dealing with the health needs of Filipinos.

In the meeting, developments on the so-called “ladderized” program for medical workers were also discussed.

The President had earlier supported a proposal to implement a “ladderized” program to address the “brain drain” among nurses in the country

“You can’t hold people back from a better life, a better future… It’s fair that you provide scholarships,” the President told PSAC officials.

“We just have to find ways to keep them here,” he pointed out.

Department of Health Officer-in-Charge Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the government is looking at “bilateral partners” to provide scholarship programs for medical students and professionals.

“Part of these discussions would be that with our bilateral relationships… we will have exchange programs or exchange conditions,” said Vergeire.

Improving scholarship programs for Filipino healthcare workers is also vital to addressing the concerns in the healthcare workforce, according to Vergeire.

The chief executive earlier backed the passage of a law improving the profession’s domestic career prospects and access to “relevant nursing education.” (PND)