On 5 June, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. announced the appointment of Dr. Teodoro Herbosa as the new head of the Department of Health or DoH, a position that had been left vacant for a year. Dr. Herbosa was preceded by Officer in Charge Maria Rosario Vergeire who acted as the head of agency from 14 July 2022 to 5 June 2023.
The mission of DoH is “To lead the country in the development of a productive, resilient, equitable and people-centered health system for Universal Health Care.”
A day after his appointment, Herbosa took his oath and pledged to usher in universal healthcare by strengthening health sector strategy interventions and implementing healthcare reforms.
This pledge is encouraging as it is aligned with the mission and priority of the DoH. Further, this supports the implementation of Republic Act No. 11223, also known as the “Universal Health Care Act.”
Section 2 of the law states:
“It is the policy of the State to protect and promote the right to health of all Filipinos and instill health consciousness among them. Toward this end, the State shall adopt:
(a) An integrated and comprehensive approach to ensure that all Filipinos are health literate, provided with healthy living conditions, and protected from hazards and risks that could affect their health;
(b) A health care model that provides all Filipinos access to a comprehensive set of quality and cost-effective, promotive, preventive, curative, rehabilitative, and palliative health services without causing financial hardship, and prioritizes the needs of the population who cannot afford such services;
(c) A framework that fosters a whole-of-system, whole-of-government, and whole-of-society approach in the development, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of health policies, programs and plans; and
(d) A people-oriented approach for the delivery of health services that are centered on people’s needs and well-being, and cognizant of the differences in culture, values, and beliefs.”
The appointment of Dr. Herbosa could not have come at a better time since we are still recovering from the onslaught of the Covid pandemic. The effects of the pandemic on health are correlated to the national economy. The successful battle against the pandemic is imperative to pump up the economy and get it running at full capacity.
A simple look at health as an aspect easily tends to focus on a personal discussion or a family level. However, the reality that it is a national issue with greater repercussions on the entire population is lost in the discussion.
Our support is critical to the success of the DoH in achieving its mandate. Among the points to highlight is that in ensuring the health and well-being of all, DoH is crucial, not just in health management, but in the essential goal of poverty eradication which is aligned with the administration’s objectives.
Good health among the population supports sustainable development which contributes to economic growth and prosperous communities. Health is also an inalienable human right according to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, as good health allows people to reach their full potential, children to be better able to learn, workers to be more productive, and parents to care for their children better.
It is also an important indicator of a country’s progress and advancement as a nation with a healthy population is certainly more likely to experience sustained growth. Good health is also essential for the stability of not just an entire country but an entire region.
Given these important implications, we should really hope that the DoH achieves its mandate and reaches its goals for 2023 and the next years. It is worth reiterating that good health is not only a personal issue or a family matter, but the fate of a nation moving forward and whether it progresses hinges primarily on the collective health of its people.