Next DOH chief should be considerate —PMA president

Philippine Medical Association (PMA) president Dr. Benito Atienza on Friday said the next head of the Health department under a new administration should be considerate to people’s sentiments.

At the Laging Handa public briefing, Atienza said this should be one of the qualities of the next Department of Health Secretary considering that the country is proceeding with the implementation of universal healthcare.

He said that the person in the position should be like the former Health Secretary Juan Flavier who can carry the sentiments of the people and value healthcare workers.

“Yung para pong ang dating ay si Juan Flavier, yun dapat po, ay idol naming mga doktor, (Someone like Juan Flavier, the next DOH chief should be like our idol),” he said.

“At least nakaka-communicate, nadadala po yung sentimyento ng ating mamamayan at pinahahalagan ang health workers,” he added.

(Someone who can at least communicate, carry the sentiments of the people and who values health workers.)

Aside from these, Atienza said the new Health secretary should be patient, understanding, open-minded, and humble.

The camp of presumptive President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has yet to announce the possible next DOH chief for the next administration. —LBG, GMA News