August 5, 2025.
The Medical Action Group (MAG) expresses its deep concern over the removal of Dr. Maria Rosario Vergeire and other experienced career officials from the Department of Health (DOH), echoing the opposition of more than 50 health organizations to this alarming development.
Let us be clear. MAG’s concern is not merely about the dismissal of high-ranking DOH officials, but about what this reflects, which is the harsh reality of how public health continues to be politicized in the Philippines. We have long raised this issue, even under previous administrations.
This recent action highlights a persistent and systemic problem. For years, many health workers, particularly those at the grassroots, have been arbitrarily dismissed, replaced, or reassigned based on political motivations, often without due process. Such interference undermines the delivery of essential health services, destabilizes institutions, and puts communities at risk.
Removing competent and qualified public servants and replacing them with individuals who lack the necessary background in public health not only jeopardizes the quality of care but also erodes public trust in our health institutions. It violates the principles of meritocracy, security of tenure, and professional independence that should govern public service.
If this can happen to top DOH officials like Dr. Vergeire, it sends a chilling message to every public health worker in the country. It shows that no one is safe from politicized decision-making. This is not just a bureaucratic shake-up, it is a warning shot. And the buck stops at Malacañang. The executive branch must refrain from interfering in the professional work of health agencies, especially when such interference runs counter to the public interest.
We therefore urge the government to:
• Uphold merit, integrity, and fairness in all public service appointments;
• Protect health workers, particularly at the community level, from political interference;
• Ensure transparency and accountability in decisions that impact the health sector.
Health is a fundamental human right. Upholding this right demands a professional, stable, and politically independent health system—one that truly serves the people, not political agendas.