MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. administered the oath of office to veteran orthopedic surgeon Dr. Jose Pujalte Jr. as the new Secretary of the Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday, July 14, 2026. Pujalte takes over the country’s primary healthcare agency following the resignation of former Health Secretary Teodoro “Ted” Herbosa.
According to Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro, Herbosa stepped down due to health reasons to focus on his recovery from a recent knee replacement surgery. Castro noted that the administration expects Pujalte to lead the agency in continuing the President’s initiatives to strengthen the healthcare system and advance high-quality medical services for all Filipinos.
Pujalte brings more than three decades of medical and administrative expertise to the Cabinet. He joined the DOH in 1991, completed his orthopedic residency at the Philippine Orthopedic Center (POC) in 1994, and eventually served as the POC medical center chief for over a decade.
He holds a medical degree from the University of the Philippines College of Medicine, a Master’s Degree in Hospital Administration from the Ateneo Graduate School of Business, and is a certified Career Executive Service Eligible since 2008. Pujalte has also shared his expertise as a faculty member at UP Manila, San Beda College of Medicine, and the FEU Nicanor Reyes Medical Foundation.
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