Health skilled Dr. Tony Leachon has resigned as particular adviser of the Department of Health (DOH) after solely a month in put up.
“I am writing to formally resign from my position as Special Adviser for Noncommunicable Diseases of the DOH, effective immediately,” he stated in his letter to Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa.
“I have made this decision after careful consideration, and it is based on personal reasons that I believe are best for me, my family and my future, he added.
In a separate statement, Leachon said a recent hearing at the House of Representatives was an “eye-opener” after he was branded as “not as a public health expert” by a lawmaker.
“It’s not good to be defending one’s {qualifications} within the public eye. At this stage, I would not have to show something anymore,” said Leachon, who calls himself an independent health reform advocate.
“Even my noble aspirations and all of my actions to serve the country will be placed under the microscope, and the vicious attacks against me will never stop. I want to spare my family from this matter. Enough,” he added.
Leachon did not mention names but Representative Janette Garin, during the hearing for the 2024 proposed DOH budget, said “Do you assume it is honest for the DOH to offer ?100,000 to an individual whose statements have been all the time skewed and malicious?”
“I’m saying this as a result of as a secretary of well being, you could have allies and colleagues with you whose duties and capabilities can be affected,” she added addressing Herbosa.
In August, Herbosa announced Leachon’s appointment as adviser, citing the former’s “exemplary data and expertise within the medical subject.”
Herbosa on Friday said Leachon is back to being a “volunteer” consultant for the DOH.
In 2020, he served as a special consultant of the National Task Force Against COVID-19 (NTF) during the Duterte administration. He, however, was removed from post following his criticisms against the government response on COVID-19 problem.
He also said his removal may have something to do with the Dengvaxia vaccine controversy.
In 2016, Leachon along with several other physicians raised concerns over the safety of the government’s free dengue vaccine after recent studies questioned its efficacy.
Garin, former DOH Secretary, who was one of the implementors of the program, slammed the doctors for creating “misinformation” to discredit this system.
The case is pending earlier than the courts.—LDF, GMA Integrated News
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
