Public health reform advocate Dr. Tony Leachon on Friday, October 17, called out Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Ted Herbosa over what he described as a “troubling mindset” on accountability and governance in the DOH, urging him to “stop blaming and start building.”

In his Facebook post titled “No More Excuses: A Call for Real Leadership in Health Governance,” Leachon said Herbosa’s recent remarks - - -“The problem in government is I get all the blame”- - -reflect a tendency to deflect rather than confront systemic issues in the country’s health system.

He was referring to a now-deleted portion of the Facebook Live of the DOH Facebook page where the health chief was caught saying it was better for the DOH to expose irregularities than be the subject of an exposé.

“This is not reform. This is deflection,” Leachon said.

He also took issue with Herbosa’s attempt to attribute lapses in local health care delivery to devolution under the 1991 Local Government Code. 

According to Leachon, while health services are devolved, the DOH “remains the national steward of Universal Health Care (UHC).”

He stressed that it is the health department’s “duty to monitor, guide, and intervene when corruption or neglect occurs.”

“This is not a blame game. This is a partnership,” he stressed. 

“Between DOH, LGUs, DILG, and Congress. And when that partnership fails, the national leadership must step in—not step away,” Leachon added. 

He outlined several points underscoring the gaps in health governance, including misplaced priorities and lack of accountability.

“Local governments often prioritize infrastructure over health outcomes. Super health centers are built, but not staffed, equipped, or sustained,” he wrote. 

“Cabinet secretaries must supervise and trace where the funds went. The UHC system is not a slogan—it’s a mandate.”

Leachon cited Akbayan party-list Rep. Chel Diokno, who during the 2026 budget hearing asked, “Kailan makakaasa ang ordinaryong Pilipino na bababa ang gastusin sa pagpapagamot (When can ordinary Filipinos expect the cost of medical treatment to go down)?” noting that “six years after the UHC Law, Filipinos still shoulder 60% of health costs.”

He also mentioned Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong’s ongoing probe into alleged anomalies in health center projects. “His findings must be supported, not buried,” Leachon said.

The physician further criticized what he described as the DOH’s “latest round of inspections” as “a publicity stunt, not a genuine audit.”

“The people deserve truth, not theatrics,” he said. “Secretary Herbosa cannot feign ignorance. He cannot escape responsibility. If he truly wants to lead, he must stop blaming and start building. Not just buildings—but trust, systems, and outcomes.”

“Health is not about politics. It’s about people. And the people are watching,” he added.