BULACAN- Indian Ambassador to the Philippines, Shri Harsh Kumar Jain visited the newly-acquired Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machine at the Bulacan Medical Center in Malolos, Bulacan on Thursday highlighting another milestone in the Philippines-India Strategic Partnership, showcasing India’s support for the Philippines’ healthcare sector.
He cited the initiative of the Provincial Government of Bulacan as the first local government in the Philippines to pursue the procurement of its own MRI made by an Indian-firm PICA Time Medical Systems.
The Indian Ambassador congratulated Governor Daniel R. Fernando for the achievements the province has seen during his tenure, particularly the installation of the first made-in-India MRI at the Bulacan Medical Center, the pioneering institution to use the advanced system.
“The installation of this high-tech MRI at Bulacan Medical Center also reflects his commendable vision for the health care of the people of the province,” Jain said.
He also highlighted that the open MRI represents global collaboration by combining US technology, international certification such as USFD&C, and Indian manufacturing excellence, which resulted in a technologically advanced, environmentally responsible, and globally competitive product.
“As the country’s first open MRI, it enhances patient comfort, reduces operational complexity, and is environmentally sustainable. It is innovation aligned with compassion, technology that serves both people and the planet,” the ambassador said.
Meanwhile, Fernando expressed his hope that the visit will deepen the friendship between India and Bulacan, and will open doors to new opportunities for all.
“With your excellency’s visit to Bulacan, we wish to explore new avenues for cooperation, whether in healthcare innovation, education, cultural exchange, and infrastructure. We look forward to working closely with you and your team to further strengthen these relations,” the governor said.
This is a significant milestone in the 75thAnniversary of the Philippines-India Diplomatic Relations in the aspect of enhancing collaboration in the healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors.
Ambassador Jain also said that this were huge support for better health outcomes and reinforcedhealth systems through knowledge and technology sharing, joint research initiatives and as well as in capacity building.
In 2025, Gov. Fernando has prioritized the procurement of brand-new MRI to provide accessible and free world-class diagnostic services using 3D cross-sectional images of soft tissues, organs and bones.
It can also confirm the actual conditions of the human body’s sensitive internal parts, such as the brain, spine, bones, and the cardiovascular system.
The MRI is located in the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Building of the Bulacan Medical Center.
The governor and the ambassador have reaffirmed their commitment to further expand cooperation between India and Bulacan, in particular, in continuing to modernize the public hospitals owned and operated by the provincial government.
Fernando has also signified his intent to explore the possibility of procuring pharmaceuticals from India that is good in quality and affordable.
It was learned that the Philippines and India have been strengthening their bilateral relations, with a focus on healthcare, defense, and technology cooperation.
In fact, the two countries signed a Plan of Action (2025-2029) to further enhance their strategic partnership, which includes cooperation in healthcare and pharmaceuticals.
