Herbosa's appointment to DOH draws praise, criticism

The appointment of Teodoro Herbosa as Secretary of the Department of Health gathered both praise and criticism from various sectors looking ahead at how the new official would steer the health sector.

Herbosa took his oath of office before President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday a day after his appointment was announced, according to a "24 Oras" report by Lei Alviz

He served as Health undersecretary from 2010 to 2015, executive vice president of the University of the Philippines from 2017 to 2021, and special medical adviser of the National Task Force Against COVID-19.

A trauma surgeon, he also headed the trauma division of the Philippine General Hospital.

The Philippine Medical Association and the Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines (PHAP) have earlier endorsed Herbosa's appointment at the helm of the DOH at the start of the Marcos administration.

The Philippine College of Physicians (PCP) also supported the appointment.

"With his experience dealing with both govt, private and other institutions, yun ang isa sa mga qualification na nakita namin kaya we actually recommended him to be Secretary of Health," PHAP president Jose Rene De Grano said.

In a statement, former Health officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire backed Herbosa's appointment.

But the groups Alliance of Health Workers (AHW) and the Filipino Nurses United (FNU) are dismayed with the appointment.  They cited Herbosa's earlier push to privatize government hospitals as one of the factors for opposing his assumption as DOH chief.

"Naranasan at nakasama natin siya sa panahon ni Secretary Ona bilang undersecretary na siya yung namumuno para isapribado yung mga pampublikong ospital. Dismayado tayo, kami sa Alliance of Health Workers," AHW national president Robert Mendoza said.

The groups also recalled Herbosa's controversial tweet at the height of the pandemic thanking health care workers, but not including those who are protesting against the government.

"Masakit sa loob namin yun kasi kapwa namin siya health professional, hindi namin naramdaman yung malasakit niya na dapat siguruhin nya na yung deserving na COVID benefit at sinasabi ng pamahalaan na kami ay mga heroes ng pandemya, sana nakiisa siya sa amin," FNU secretary general Jocelyn Andamo said.

She said the new DOH chief is confronted with issues in the health sector that need to be addressed  such as salaries, nurses' departure to work abroad, and the lack of health care workers in some hospitals.

"Kailangan ibigay yung ini-insist natin na dapat taasan ang sahod ng healthworkers lalo na ang nurses ay napipiltang umalis sa bansa dahil sa malaking offers sa ibang bansa," Andamo said.

GMA Integrated News is still getting the reaction of Herbosa.—Sherylin Untalan/LDF, GMA Integrated News