Who Is Dr. Ted Herbosa, the New Department of Health Secretary?
President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has finally found his administration's Department of Health (DOH) secretary in Dr. Teodoro “Ted” Herbosa. The physician has quite a professional reputation, serving as a public health expert who served in different public and private capacities in healthcare and disaster management in the Philippines. He hasn't shied away from controversy either.
Who Is Dr. Ted Herbosa, the At-Times Controversial Physician Set to Take Over DOH?
Herbosa graduated from the University of the Philippines with a Bachelor of Science in Biology degree in 1979. He would finish medicine at the university by 1983. The doctor also has an international diploma course in emergency and crisis management from the University of Geneva. At the Sackler Faculty of Medicine at Tel Aviv University in Israel, Herbosa would then go on to take up his postgraduate studies.
He'd end up as a health undersecretary from 2010 to 2015 before serving as executive vice president of the University of the Philippines System from 2017 to 2021. Herbosa was active in coordinating healthcare efforts during Typhoon Yolanda, too. In the latter half of those years with UP, Herbosa would come into the national spotlight as the adviser for the government’s National COVID-19 task force during the Duterte administration.
The Department of Health (DOH) officially welcomes back Dr. Teodoro “Ted” Herbosa, former Undersecretary of Health and National Task Force (NTF) for COVID-19 Adviser, as the new Secretary of Health under the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. pic.twitter.com/AoToDqHz1I
— Department of Health Philippines (@DOHgovph) June 5, 2023
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During his stint as an adviser, Herbosa attracted controversy for his allegiance to former health secretary Francisco Duque III during a time when the public wanted the ex-chief to resign because of his perceived mismanagement of the pandemic response.
Let’s not forget who Ted Herbosa really is. Isinuka na siya ng UP community.
He is a mysogynist, redtagger, & a lapdog of the Marcos Duterte regime. In 2021, hospitals were literally operating beyond capacity, patients were setting up camp in parking lots and makeshift tents. https://t.co/e9nQtKlHx5 pic.twitter.com/RBDJAyGWb3— Rachelle Villamor (@RachVillamor) June 5, 2023CONTINUE READING BELOWwatch now
This wasn't the only instance that Herbosa was condemned. In 2021, he was criticized for tweeting “death by community pantry” after the unfortunate demise of an old man waiting in line at a local community pantry in Quezon City. He would apologize and resign from UP soon after.
Herbosa also apologized for sharing a Facebook post that joked about rape in 2020. Known to red-tag critics, the physician has been vocal about his anti-communist sentiments in the past, as well.
DOH Undersecretary Dr. Maria Rosario Singh Vergeire, who was officer in charge the past year, will be aiding Herbosa's transition into the top Health position in the land.
