The Department of Health marks on June 23 its 112th Anniversary celebrating many years of zealous work towards fulfilling its mission of providing health care for all, even as it faced and continues to face many daunting challenges and critiques.
The Department of Health has seen many changes in its mandate and structure from its formation as the Department of Public Works, Education and Hygiene on June 23, 1898 under the First Philippine Republic.
Dr. Ethlyn Nieto, Under Secretary of the Department of Health, speaking about rabies issues in the Philippines. Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kids4rfw/
Two decades ago, the most important change came when many of the DOH functions were devolved to the local government units. From that point, DoH changed its role from one of implementation to one of governance. Instead of ensuring that primary health care services were delivered, the DoH started to focus on standard setting and monitoring and also engaged much more on special projects that included the National Micronutrient Campaign, Disaster Management, Urban Health and Nutrition Project, Traditional Medicine, Doctors to the Barrios Program, and other national programs. From 1992, the DoH battlecry has remained “Let’s DoH It.”
In line with the Arroyo administration’s thrust to prioritize delivery of services to the masses and improve the quality of life of all Filipinos, especially the poor, the DoH has mobilized all its offices and personnel that include its central office, 16 Centers for Health Development located in various regions, 70 hospitals and 4 attached agencies. DOH has worked closely with its attached agencies that include the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PHIC), the Dangerous Drugs Board, the Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care, and the Philippine National AIDS Council.
At the advent of the coming in of a new Administration, on its 112th Anniversary, the men and women of the Department of Health is ever ready to continue to zealously work and adopt the Aquino Health Agenda towards a Universal Health Care.
Source: Philippine Information Agency
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