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Ex-DOH chief Alberto Romualdez Jr. passes away


(Updated 5:42 p.m.) Former Health secretary Dr. Alberto Romualdez Jr. has passed away, according to Department of Health assistant secretary and spokesperson Dr. Eric Tayag.


Romualdez was Health secretary during the short-lived Estrada administration, or from 1998 to 2001.

Benjamin de Leon of the Forum for Family Planning and Development said Romualdez passed away at 12:15 p.m. Friday at the Manila Doctors Hospital.

"We are still in a state of disbelief. We lost one of the champions of universal health care, pillar of strength and inspiration in the fight for RH bill until it became a statute of the land," De Leon said.

Romualdez was vice president of the Forum for Family Planning and Development.

On Twitter, Senator Pia Cayetano said Romualdez was instrumental in her work as a legislator working on health-related laws such as the Reproductive Health law, PhilHealth law and Cheaper Medicines Act. 
 
"I am so saddened to hear of the demise of one of my mentors, Dr Quasi Romualdez, former Secretary  of Health... Day after day, week after week, he attended hearings and s[t]ay in the gallery, when we debated the RH Law on the Senate floor," she said.
 
Dr. Junice Demeterio-Melgar, executive director of the women's health group Likhaan, said in a statement that the group "owes so much" to Romualdez, who pushed for a comprehensive healthcare reform during his stint as Health secretary.
 
"As Secretary of Health during the abbreviated Estrada regime, he (Romualdez) gifted us with the Health Reform Agenda and admin orders on RH, Family Planning, post-abortion care, and emergency contraceptive pill. His body of advocacies includes: Generics, PhilHealth, Sin Tax, RH, universal health care, and many, many more!" she said.
 
Details on Romualdez's wake and interment have not been announced as of posting time. — Xianne Arcangel/KBK/RSJ, GMA News
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