Francisco Duque III

Francisco Duque III is a prominent Filipino physician and government official. He has served as the Secretary of the Department of Health under two different administrations, and has been instrumental in the implementation of various health policies and programs in the country.

Early Life and Education

Francisco Duque III was born in Pangasinan, Philippines. He completed his undergraduate studies at the Ateneo de Manila University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology. He then pursued his medical degree at the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Medicine and Surgery. Duque also holds a Master's degree in Pathology from Georgetown University and a Master's in Business Administration from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

Career

Duque began his career in the medical field as a practicing physician. He later transitioned into the public sector, serving in various capacities within the Department of Health. He was first appointed as Secretary of Health in 2005 by then-President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. During his tenure, he spearheaded the implementation of the Fourmula One for Health, a framework aimed at improving the efficiency, effectiveness, and equity of the Philippine health system.

In 2017, Duque was reappointed as Secretary of Health by President Rodrigo Duterte. His second term has been marked by efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, including the rollout of the country's vaccination program.

Controversies

Duque's tenure as Secretary of Health has not been without controversy. He has faced criticism for his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, including issues related to testing capacity and vaccine procurement. He has also been implicated in alleged corruption within the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), although he has denied any wrongdoing.

See Also

• Department of Health (Philippines)
• COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines
• PhilHealth