Ex-Health chief Bengzon dies at 90

ALFREDO RAFAEL ANTONIO BENGZON, who served as Health secretary under President Corazon S. Aquino, died on Tuesday at the age of 90, the Department of Health (DoH) confirmed.

In a Facebook post, Health Secretary Teodoro J. Herbosa paid tribute to Mr. Bengzon, noting that his social and healthcare initiatives earned him the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 1991.

“I was a young surgical resident at UPPGH (University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital) when he became SOH (Secretary of Health),” Mr. Herbosa shared.

“The UPPGH Department of Surgery adopted the Jolo Provincial Hospital, and I volunteered for surgical missions there in Jolo almost monthly from 1988-1989. I started my surgery for rural communities because of that experience.”

His legacy was marked by “courageous efforts to make healthcare more accessible and affordable for Filipinos,” Mr. Herbosa said, adding Mr. Bengzon’s push for the Generic Drugs Law.

The late Mr. Bengzon also advocated for more accessibility to family planning resources, despite opposition from religious sectors, as well as led DoH reforms to eliminate corrupt practices.

In a separate statement, the Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health (ASMPH), which he founded, also mourned his passing.

ASMPH honored Mr. Bengzon, who was the school’s first dean, for his role in shaping a generation of “socially committed medical professionals.”

Mr. Bengzon also had key leadership posts at Ateneo and was president and chief executive officer of The Medical City. — Erika Mae P. Sinaking