Vergeire turns over DOH helm to Herbosa

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, former officer-in-charge of the Department of Health, formally turns over the leadership of the agency to Secretary Ted Herbosa. @gmanewsbreaking @gmanews pic.twitter.com/OzOjf6p3kS

— Giselle Ombay (@giselleombay_) June 19, 2023

The leadership of the Department of Health (DOH) on Monday was officially turned over to newly-appointed Health Secretary Ted Herbosa by former officer-in-charge Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire.

Herbosa, who was appointed DOH chief by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. earlier this month, presented his eight-point action agenda to fully realize the Universal Health Care (UHC) Act.

These are: (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.

Herbosa also vowed to continue the good governance and process reforms implemented by Vergeire, who served as caretaker of DOH for almost a year under the current administration while the Secretary post was vacant.

He, however, stressed that he wants DOH’s governance to be more “humanistic.”

“Masyadong regulatory [it’s too regulatory]. 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’s a human side in health. The way we deliver and govern should be humanistic. Makatao. Dapat makatao ‘yung regulasyon, ‘yung pagpatakbo, at pagtulong sa ating ospital, whether private or not, na magbigay ng serbisyo sa mga tao,” he said.

(The regulation, the operation, and helping in our hospitals, whether private or not, to provide services to the people must be humane.)

Vergeire, for her part, thanked Herbosa for not veering away from the projects she started.

“Syempre ang gusto nating makita at ipagpatuloy ‘yung ginawa natin for Universal Health Care. Kapag binalangkas kasi natin ang UHC, marami tayong kailangang tignan. Unang una na ‘yung primary care, so sana mapipagpatuloy natin ‘yung patuloy na naipapadama natin sa ground kung ano ang primary care. ‘Yung equity project natin kung saan naka-focus tayo sa mga areas na talagang walang wala at kailangan ng tulong natin,” she said.

(What I want to see to be continued is what we did for Universal Health Care. When we outline UHC, we have a lot to look at. First of which is primary care, so I hope we can continue to have people feel what primary care is. We also want to continue our equity project where we focus on areas that really have nothing and need our help.)

Vergeire also said she hopes that the healthcare workers and health facilities in the country will be taken care of.

The turnover ceremony was held in line with the DOH's celebration of its 125th anniversary. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News