Dr. Jose Brittanio Pujalte Jr. takes oath as the new Secretary of Health. He was appointed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. following the resignation of then Health secretary Ted Herbosa. 📷 PCO
MANILA — The Department of Health (DOH) said it is exercising due diligence which is why it has chosen to freeze the procurement of commodities for tuberculosis.
Barely a month at the helm of the DOH, Secretary Jose Brittanio Pujalte said that he was "asked to sign a P3.2 billion contract."
“So any one in his right mind would say ‘pause, let me review this because due diligence is important,’” he said at the sidelines of the National Hospital Week celebration in Manila.
His reaction comes following an 18-page complaint filed by health advocates urging the Office of the Ombudsman to investigate and suspend the health chief.
The complainants allege that Pujalte’s instruction to freeze the procurement for an indefinite period was done to ‘buy time for an unnamed favored supplier.”
“I don’t think there’s anything wrong with erring on the side of caution rather than signing something of which if I did, they would say ‘bakit ang bilis mong pinirmahan yan? You’re probably complicit,’” he argued.
The health chief said his decision would actually ensure that the procurement is responsive to the needs of Filipinos with tuberculosis, transparent, and compliant with government policies.
He added he respects the processes of the Office of the Ombudsman and is ready to submit relevant documents and records required for any investigation.
He assured that the department remains committed to maintaining access to safe and effective medicines while safeguarding public funds.
“The best thing to do is to study something of such enormous amount and following the process, I am able to procure medicines that are good and will be the right medicine for our Filipino patients with tuberculosis. So pasyente muna,” Pujalte said.
Prior to the complaint over the procurement of TB commodities, Pujalte also denied claims of gambling saying he was in a hotel-casino to meet local officials for a courtesy call.
He called the criticisms against him a demolition job.
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