Herbosa on leave after knee replacement surgery

MANILA, Philippines — Health Secretary Ted Herbosa is on sick leave following knee replacement surgery, Department of Health (DOH) spokesperson Albert Domingo confirmed on Saturday.

“Secretary Herbosa started his sick leave [on] 6 July 2026 for knee replacement surgery. The procedure went well, and he is now undergoing physical therapy and rehabilitation,” Domingo said in a Viber message to the Inquirer.

Domingo, also a DOH undersecretary, has been designated as the officer-in-charge of the agency while Herbosa remains on leave.

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“Designating the chief of staff as OIC is routine. It is neither a secret nor something controversial. This is the second or third time I’ve been OIC — it happens across all departments when the secretary is temporarily unavailable, and ends upon his return,” he said.

Domingo did not say how long the health secretary will remain on leave.

“The length of time depends on his recovery; so far, progress is good,” he said. /das