Leadership of the Department of Health (DOH) has been transferred from its acting chief, Undersecretary Maria Rosario Singh-Vergeire to Health Secretary Teddy Herbosa.
The turnover is in conjunction with the DOH’s week-long 125th anniversary celebration on Monday with the theme “One25. ONE DOH: Sama-sama Tungo sa Pagbabago at Kalusugan ng Lahat.”
The DOH opened with the formal assumption of Herbosa as Health Secretary, receiving the DOH banner from Vergeire as a symbol of the transfer of authority during the flag-raising ceremony.
Herbosa vowed in his speech to continue the good governance and process reforms implemented by Vergeire has started.
“I am confident that together we will bring a healthy, comfortable, and secure life for every Filipino for generations to come.”
“Let us be united in building a healthier, more resilient future. I am confident that together we will bring a healthy, comfortable, and secure life for every Filipino for generations to come. Sa Healthy Pilipinas: Bawat Buhay Mahalaga!” the health chief said.
The health head also underscored his eight-point action agenda to fully realize the Universal Health Care (UHC) Act.
It includes: (1) Bawat Pilipino, ramdam ang kalusugan; (2) Ligtas, dekalidad, at mapagkalingang serbisyo; (3) Teknolohiya para sa mabilis na serbisyong pangkalusugan; (4) Handa sa krisis; (5) Pag-iwas sa sakit; (6) Ginhawa ng isip at damdamin; (7) Kapakanan at karapatan ng health workers and (8) Proteksyon sa anumang pandemya.
“There is a human side in health. And the way we deliver and govern should be humanistic, makatao.”
“I know they want it to be regulatory to promote good governance and prevent corruption. But I think we should also not forget that there is a human side in health. And the way we deliver and govern should be humanistic, makatao (humane),” he said.
Moreover, Herbosa said his administration would work on higher pay for healthcare workers.
“Better recognition and a clear upward career mobility pathway of local government and health staff towards the DOH,” he concluded.
