Tony Leachon. SCREENGRAB from Dr. Tony Leachon’s Facebook page
Former public health consultant to the government Dr. Tony Leachon has been named special adviser of the Department of Health (DOH) for noncommunicable diseases, the DOH said in a statement on Friday. Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa appointed Leachon, an internist and cardiologist at the Manila Doctors Hospital, who served as adviser of the National Task Force Against COVID-19 at the height of the pandemic during the Duterte administration. According to Herbosa, Leachon’s new role at the DOH would be “beneficial” as he has “exemplary knowledge and experience in the medical field.” Leachon previously served as president of the Philippine College of Physicians and was named one of The Outstanding Filipino Physicians in 2008 and an Outstanding Filipino Awardee in Medicine in 2010. “It’s about time to work together to meet the huge challenges in health care,” said Leachon in a Twitter post. “I hope that some of my ideas and plans will be helpful to reduce the burden of noncommunicable diseases in the Philippines.” —Kathleen de Villa