The Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines, Inc. (PHAPi) on Thursday, June 16, announced that it is recommending Dr. Teodoro “Ted” J. Herbosa as the next head of the Department of Health (DOH).
This, as the incoming administration has yet to name who will head the crucial agency, especially now that the country is still battling a pandemic.
“Sa amin pong hanay, mayroon pong mga hospitals, different medical societies, even the PMA (Philippine Medical Association), mayroon po kaming niri-recommend and hopefully siya po ang tanggapin ng ating President-elect Marcos na siya pong gawing Secretary of Health, but of course the final decision ay sa kaniya pa rin po (Among our ranks, there are hospitals, different medical societies, even the PMA, we have someone we are recommending and hopefully he will be accepted by President-elect Marcos that he will be made his Secretary of Health, but of course the final decision still up to him),” said (PHAPi) president, Dr. Jose Rene de Grano during a “Laging Handa” briefing.
“At ang amin pong niri-recommend ay si Dr. Ted Herbosa po (And the one we are recommending is Dr. Ted Herbosa),” he continued.
De Grano did not disclose why they have chosen to recommend Herbosa to head the DOH.
Currently, Herbosa is an adviser of the National Task Force against Covid-19.
In April 2021, Herbosa drew flak over his “death by community pantry” tweet. A day after the incident, he resigned from his post as executive vice president of the University of the Philippines System, citing “personal reasons.”