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“It’s with deepest regret that I announce that I am not anymore the Special Adviser of National Adviser – COVID 19 effective today. I have my full respect for Sec. Charlie Galvez and we will remain as good friends. Lots of good memories. But I have to move on. 🇵đź‡#RelentlessForChange
I left due to the my differences with DOH policies eg. Lack of sense of urgency , problems in COVID data management , and transparency in communication process.
I have to align with my True North,” said Dr. Anthony Leachon, a staunch health advocate and was a Special Adviser, National Task Force on COVID-19 as he informed his followers of his resignation from the post.
Leachon’s resignation came four days after his controversial post on Facebook regarding Department of Health’s ineffective management on the ongoing health crisis.
“Please forgive me. But I think DOH (Department of Health) has lost focus on everything. Risk communication, priorities, data management, and execution of all plans. That’s all it is,” said Leachon on his Facebook status.
See full post below.
On Tuesday, June 16, one of his Facebook posts was addresed to DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III.
“I would advise the Health Secretary to take a rest and reflect . He serves at the pleasure of the President, but he should also serve at the pleasure of the people. He should step up. He might also need to regroup and have a brief team-building with the DOH upper management. We have 2 epicenters now. We have limited means; we cannot be facing so many problems. I have nothing against the Secretary; I respect him. I wish him well and I hope he is healthy physically, mentally, and emotionally.”
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Below is the official statement of Dr. Carlito Galvez, chief implementer, National Task Force on COVID-19 in response to Leachon’s termination.
“I maintain my respects for Dr. Anthony Leachon and thank him for his services rendered to the National Task Force on Covid-19 (NTF) albeit very short. However, we have to let go of Dr. Leachon because the COVID-19 Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID) and NTF are collegial bodies that have to work in synch with each other. After all, the main objective of both bodies is to serve the Filipino people and seek the common good.
Dr. Leachon’s preemptive releases of some information prior to official announcement and adaption jeopardized the communication efforts of the IATF and NTF and caused unwarranted misunderstanding between two entities that should be working together. He has been cautioned but remained deaf to collegial advise. Constructive criticism among colleagues is most welcome to assure improvement but this should have been done internally to maintain unity of effort.
Although transparency to the Filipino people is our primary objective, allowing the course of the decision-making process to take place is a must in order to derive the best decision that will serve the common good.
Our institutions are not perfect but I can assure you that the majority of those who serve are doing so with a lot of dedication even at the risk of their own lives. The problems we faced in the last few months and continue to confront are all new where we learned as we go. Such is the case not only with the Philippines but the rest of the world. In time, we shall smoothen out our processes.
To this end, I state my unequivocal support to the ranks of the professional men and women of the Department of Health and all our medical frontliners who continue to man their forts despite the losses in their ranks.
These times also call for compassion and understanding for each and everyone and where unity of effort should run complementary. We cannot afford to be divisive in this fight where coming together as one will make us stronger to face this global health issue.
We can all go through these challenging times intact, healthy, and ready to take off again as one nation.
Tapang. Malasakit. Together we heal as one.”
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