Who is Brix Pujalte Jr., the Philippines' New Health Secretary?
Ted Herbosa is out as health secretary. In: orthopedic surgeon Dr. Jose Brittanio "Brix" Pujalte Jr.
by JV Ordoñez
Published on Jul 13, 2026
Philippine President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr. has appointed Philippine Orthopedic Center Medical Chief Dr. Jose Brittanio "Brix" Pujalte, Jr. as the country's new health secretary. This comes after his predecessor Ted Herbosa resigned to recover from his double knee replacement surgery, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said at a news briefing at the Malacañang Palace.
Herbosa told DoH employees that he needed three to four months to undergo extensive rehabilitation, which wouldn't allow him to give his complete attention to his duties as health chief.
"Today, I tendered my courtesy resignation as SOH (Secretary of Health) to President Bongbong Marcos. My operation has made me realize that I also need to take care of myself," he said in an exit letter obtained by media outlets.
Herbosa's resignation also comes after the health group Health Alliance for Democracy demanded that he resign after he failed to address the issue of the P89 billion in PhilHealth funds transferred to the National Treasury. The complaints filed before the Ombudsman also accused Herbosa of P1.29 billion in supposed cash advances to the United Nations Children's Fund and raised concern over the P1.8 billion procurement of mobile primary care facilities.
Who is The New Health Chief?
Pujalte isn't a neophyte health official. He previously served at the helm of the Philippine Orthopedic Center as administrator and has been with the DOH since 1991, completing his residency at the same institution three years later.
The new health secretary is a graduate of the University of the Philippines College of Medicine, with a master's degree in hospital administration from the Ateneo Graduate School of Business. He holds fellowships with the Philippine Orthopedic Association, the Philippine College of Surgeons, and the American College of Surgeons.
Pujalte founded the Philippine Shoulder Society and the Philippine Spine Society and was one of the youngest presidents the Philippine Orthopedic Association has had. He later headed the ASEAN Orthopedic Association.
Orthopedics runs in his family. He's a second-generation surgeon and has credited his father, Dr. Jose M. Pujalte, a former director of the National Orthopedic Hospital, for his commitment to public healthcare.
The new health secretary trained further in Japan, the United States, and the United Kingdom, specializing in shoulder surgery, joint reconstruction, spine surgery, and joint replacement. Coincidentally, that's the same specialty behind the knee surgery Herbosa is currently recovering from.
"With his entry into the DOH, Dr. Pujalte Jr. is expected to lead the agency in continuing President Marcos Jr.'s initiatives to further strengthen the country's healthcare system, advance quality health services, and promote good health for all," Castro said in Filipino, commenting on Pujalte's appointment at the same Palace briefing.
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