The Philippine Department of Health
The Philippine Department of Health
The Philippine Department of Health
“To lead the country in the development of a Productive, Resilient, Equitable and
People Centered health system.”
VISION
“Filipinos are among the healthiest people in Southeast Asia by 2022. Asia by 2040”
Historical Background
1. History of DOH 23 June 1898 Creation of the Department of Public Works, Education
& Hygiene (now the Department of Public Works & Highways, Department of Education
Culture & Sports, and Department of Health, respectively) through the Proclamation of
President Emilio Aguinaldo. 29 September 1898 Establishment of the Board of Health
for the City of Manila under General Orders No. 15. 1899 - 1905 Abolition of the Board
of Health and appointment of Dr. Guy L. Edie as the first Commissioner of Public
Health. Act. No. 157 of the Philippine Commission creation of the Board of Health for
the Philippine Islands; it also acted as the Board of Health for the city of Manila Acts
Nos. 307, 308 and 309 Establishment of the Provincial and Municipal Boards of Health,
completing the health organization in accordance with the territorial division of the
Islands. Act. No. 1407 also the Reorganization Act Abolition of the Board of Health and
its functions and activities were taken over by the Bureau of Health. 1906 Passage of
Act No. 1487 of the Philippine Commission repealing Act No. 307 wherein the provincial
Board of Health gave way to the Office of the District Health Officer 1912 Passage of
Act. No. 2156, so- called "Fajardo Act", which authorized the consolidation of
municipalities into sanitary division and established what is now known as the "Health
Fund" 1915 Changing of the name of the Bureau of Health to the Philippine Health
Service, which was later on changed to its former name. 1932 Passage of Act No. 4007,
also "the Reorganization Act of 1932", which created the Office of the Commissioner of
Health and Public Welfare, the Philippine General Hospital, and the five examining
boards (medical, pharmaceutical, dental, optical and nursing). 01 January 1941
Creation of the Department of Health and Public Welfare as provided for in Executive
Order No. 317, series of 1941. The
2. Department was under the Secretary of Health and Public Welfare and also included
the Bureau of Quarantine; the health department of chartered cities; the provincial, city
and municipal hospitals; dispensaries and clinics, the public markets and slaughter
houses; the health resorts; and all charitable and relief agencies. However, the
Philippine General Hospital was detached from the Department and transferred to the
Office of the President of the Philippines. 1947 Reorganization of government offices
under Executive Order No. 94, series of 1947 with the transfer of the Bureau of Public
Welfare to the Office of the President and the Department was renamed Department of
Health (DOH).
3. 1972 Through Letter of Implementation No. 8, pursuant to Presidential Decree No.1,
Sept.24, 1972, the DOH was renamed Ministry of Health. The National Cancer Center
and Radiation Health Service were created. The Ministry was divided into 12 regions
covering several provinces and cities under a regional health director. Attached offices
were the Philippine Medical Care Commission, the Dangerous Drugs Board, National
Nutrition Council, Population Commission, National Schistosomiasis Control Council
and the Tondo General Hospital.
4. government hospitals; secure funding for priority health programs; promote the
development of local health systems and ensure its effective performance; strengthen
the capacities of health regulatory agencies and expand coverage of the National
Health Insurance Programs. National Objectives for Health 1999- 2004 was launched.
This states the Philippines objectives for the eradication and control of infectious
diseases commonly affecting our people, major chronic illnesses and injuries that
compromise lives of the productive sector.
5. the basis of F1 implementation in these sites 2006 The Presidential Anti-Graft
Commission recognized and awarded the DOH as the number one government agency
in fighting corruption. DOH also topped in the Pulse Asia 3rd Quarter Survey as the
number one government agency in terms of overall performance
are to a large extent fragmented and decentralized. In The Philippines, the health
system is a complex, multi-layered system in which responsibilities in the health
care sector are fragmented Responsibility is shared between the central
government (the Ministry of Health), and Local Government Units that have full
autonomy to organize and finance their ‘own’ regional systems
The Department of Health develops and approves state quality standards and
clinical protocols, and is responsible for the organization and implementation of
the mandatory accreditation of health care facilities and the issuing of licenses.
Local Government Units such as provincial governments are tasked with
providing primary and secondary hospital care, while city and municipal
governments are tasked with providing primary health care, promotive and
preventive health programs and basic ambulatory clinical care
Formal
The formal private sector consists of clinics, infirmaries, laboratories, hospitals,
drug manufacturers and distributors, drugstores, medical supply companies and
distributors, health insurance companies, health research institutions and
academic institutions offering medical, nursing, midwifery, and other allied
professional health education
Five hospitals – Asian Hospital and Medical Centre, Chong Hua Hospital, The
Medical City, St. Luke’s Medical Centre and Makati Medical Centre – hold
accreditation from the Joint Commission International
Non-formal
Non-formal health service providers include traditional healers (herbolarios) and
traditional birth attendants (hilots), which are not covered by any licensing or
accreditation system by the Government.
Other relevant private organizations and NGOs in the health system including
Professional groups such as:
The Philippine Medical Association
The Philippine Nurses Association
Philippine Dental Association
The Integrated Midwives Association of the Philippines, are involved in the
promotion of standards of practice and competence in the health professions.
Government
A government health facility may be under the National Government,
DOH, Local Government Unit (LGU), Department of Justice (DOJ), State
Universities and Colleges (SUCs), Government-owned and controlled
corporations (GOCC) and others
Private
Owned, established, and operated with funds from donation, principal,
investment, or other means by any individual, corporation, association, or
organization
General Hospital
A hospital that provides services for all kinds of illnesses, diseases,
injuries or deformities
It provides medical and surgical care to the sick and injured, maternity,
newborn and child care
It shall be equipped with the service capabilities needed to support board certified/
eligible medical specialists and other licensed physicians rendering services in, but not
limited to the following:
Clinical Services (Family Medicine, Pediatrics, Internal Medicine,
Obstetrics and Gynecology, Surgery)
Emergency Services
Outpatient Services
Ancillary and Support Services (Clinical Laboratory, Imaging Facility,
Pharmacy)
President Rodrigo Duterte has recently released the Philippine Health Agenda 2016-
2022, which strengthens the Duterte Health Agenda, “All for Health towards Health for
All”. This health system, through the Department of Health, aspires financial protection,
better health outcomes and responsiveness for all Filipinos.
In order to attain health-related sustainable development goals, the A.C.H.I.E.V.E.
strategy is followed:
V- Value all clients and patients, especially the poor, marginalized, and vulnerable
With the Philippine Health Agenda 2016-2022, we will all ACHIEVE a health system
with the values of Equity, Quality, Efficiency, Transparency, Accountability,
Sustainability, Resilience towards “Lahat Para sa Kalusugan! Tungo sa Kalusugan Para
sa Lahat”.