The Health Alliance for Democracy urges Dr. Teodoro J. Herbosa to resign as Secretary of the Department of Health. He has failed in his mandate to protect people’s health. Under his leadership, the country’s health crisis has deepened and worsened, betrayed by incompetence and corruption. Herbosa has to be accountable for alleged corruption in the Department of Health that is similar to the DPWH scandal.
- Herbosa’s gross incompetence endangers people’s health
- As DOH Secretary and concurrent Chairperson of the PhilHealth Board of Directors, he knowingly sanctioned the plunder of people’s health funds by allowing the transfer of P89.9 billion “excess” funds to the National Treasury. These funds were never “excess: They were the result of PhilHealth’s criminal underspending to expand its benefit packages and reduce out-of-pocket spending of patients.
When the Supreme Court unanimously ordered to return of PhilHealth of P60 billion through the 2026 National Budget and not PhilHealth, Herbosa allowed a double theft of people’s taxes and people’s health rights.
Despite widespread calls for transparency and accountability over the use of t he ₱60 billion, Herbosa chose silence—complicity through inaction.
- During the bicameral conference meeting on Dec. 13, 2025, legislators reported Herbosa’s failure to report the actual status of super health centers needing funding under the Health Facilities Enhancement Program (HFEP) in the 2026 national budget.
The non-completion and non-operational of super health centers deprive poor patients, especially in underserved rural areas, of essential, comprehensive primary healthcare services like birthing, X-ray, laboratory exam, ultrasound, and dialysis. This neglect is a direct assault on the health rights of the most vulnerable Filipinos.
- The DOH under Herbosa has failed to issue clear guidelines for MAIFIP (Medical Assistance for Indigents and Financially Incapacitated Patients) Herbosa did not address the claims that MAIFIP has developed into a system of political patronage.
Patients are forced to beg politicians for Guarantee Letters—turning healthcare into a tool for electoral favors instead of a public service.
These additional funds must go directly to public health facilities, not to politicians’ discretionary power.
- Herbosa fails to maximize efficiency of its allotted budget. According to the Commission on Audit annual audit report on DOH for 2024, it declared P34.8 million worth of drugs, medicines, and other inventories that were expired. Additionally, almost P100 million worth of medication is about to expire. (GMA Integrated News. Dec. 4, 2025)
While millions of Filipinos suffer and die without life-saving medicines, these medicines rot in DOH warehouses – neglect under Herbosa’s leadership.
- Herbosa corruption scandals similar to DPWH. He faces several serious allegations before the Office of the Ombudsman.
- ₱44.6 million worth of near expiry psychiatric medications to the Rotary Club of Quezon City, a private organization with no license to dispense such drugs.(https://tribune.net.ph/…/herbosa-5-other-doh-officials)
- P1.29 billion unliquidated funds transfer to UNICEF in 2024, plus an additional P524 million, for vaccine and drug procurement . INQUIRER.net August 13, 2025)
- Conflict of interest and procurement interference: Herbosa, as the concurrent DOH Head of the Procuring Entity (HOPE) , was reported to have“continuously fraternized” with Zuellig Pharma Corporation, an active participation in DOH bidding and procurement activities. (INQUIRER.net December 03, 2025) .
These acts point to systemic corruption tolerated and enabled at the highest level.
- Betrayal of health workers.
Herbosa has ignored the needs of health workers for the release of ₱1.4 billion in unpaid allowances ( Daily Tribune. November 21, 2025).
He engages in double-speak by lavishing praises on health workers while refusing to address contractualization, long hours of work and understaffing.
Worse, the governments encouragement of health worker migration as a “solution” to poor working conditions bleeds the country dry of its skilled health workforce, sacrificing public health for remittances.
Herbosa remains a loyal political ally of President Bongbong Marcos Jr., who continues to shield and trust him despite overwhelming evidence of failure and corruption. Corruption extends to Pres. Marcos Jr himself and to Vice-President Sara Duterte, reflecting a regime that betrays public trust and tramples on the people’s right to health.
Herbosa must resign. Marcos and Duterte must resign. They must be held accountable. The plunder must stop. Uphold people’s right to health.##
