New Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Dr. Enrique Ona says that under the administration of President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III, his department will take pro-reproductive health, pro-family measures. "Ona said the DOH would promote reproductive health as a means to ensure the health and welfare of the family. To do this, the department would conduct an information campaign on responsible parenthood by giving all possible options to achieve family size based on one's desire and capacity," reports Philstar.com.
However, it remains to be seen whether Ona, like the controversial and popular Dr. Esperanza Cabral, would go as far as distributing condoms and other contraceptives to the public as part of the reproductive health campaign.
Ona has also vowed to "expand the membership and benefit packages of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) in the next three years" and ensure that essential drugs are available at more affordable prices.
Ona, 71, is one of the country's renowned transplant surgeons. He was the director of the National Kidney and Transplant Institute for 11 years and has been the president of the Transplantation Society of the Philippines since 1989.
