HEALTH Secretary Ted Herbosa has called on 3,845 newly licensed physicians to join government service.

“To all the new Filipino physicians who recently passed the Physicians Licensure Examinations 2024, my greetings and congratulations to you all,” Herbosa said.

“Join us in government service at DOH. Let us do public health, health systems strengthening, health policy, [and] health financing,” he added.

Herbosa offered several options for new physicians, including joining the Doctor to the Barrios program, which serves underserved rural areas. Additionally, DOH-run hospitals offer residency and specialization programs.

He urged the new doctors to help build a healthcare system Filipinos deserve.

“Consider Family and Community Medicine, the doctors who will save lives at our BUCAS or Bagong Urgent Care and Ambulatory Service centers, mobile primary care clinics, and in the PuroKalusugan program,” Herbosa said.

PuroKalusugan is a DOH primary care program that brings healthcare services closer to communities or purok. It offers immunization, oral health, maternal health services, tuberculosis control, nutrition programs, and prevention and control for non-communicable diseases, among others.

“Serve the people. Let us build and provide safe, affordable, and accessible healthcare for our people, dahil sa Bagong Pilipinas, Bawat Buhay Mahalaga,” Herbosa said.