Pasig City: The Israeli government is set to finance the establishment of a women's wellness center at the Rizal Medical Center in Pasig City, marking its largest health initiative in the Philippines. Israel Ambassador to the Philippines Ilan Fluss and Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa formalized this partnership through a joint communique signed at a ceremony held at the medical center.

According to Philippines News Agency, the center will be developed with support from Israel's international aid agency, MASHAV. This collaboration will focus on procuring equipment, upgrading systems and technologies at the Rizal Medical Center, and facilitating capacity building for medical professionals to enhance services for women.

Ambassador Fluss highlighted that this is Israel's first significant health project in the Philippines, as previous efforts primarily concentrated on agriculture and water. He emphasized the commitment to expand development cooperation even amidst ongoing conflicts, reaffirming Israel's dedication to sharing expertise and contributing to global development.

The envisioned wellness center aims to provide comprehensive services addressing women's wellness needs, including maternal and child health and psycho-social support. The signing ceremony was also attended by Medical Center Chief II Dr. Maria Rica Lumague, deputy head of MASHAV Irit Savion Waidergorn, and Israeli experts from Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center (Ichilov).