Vision by 2030 A global leader for attaining better health outcomes, competitive and responsive health care system,

and equitable health financing. Mission To guarantee equitable, sustainable and quality health for all Filipinos, especially the poor, and to lead the quest for excellence in health. DOH Profile The Department of Health (DOH) holds the over-all technical authority on health as it is a national health policy-maker and regulatory institution. Basically, the DOH has three major roles in the health sector: (1) leadership in health; (2) enabler and capacity builder; and (3) administrator of specific services. Its mandate is to develop national plans, technical standards, and guidelines on health. Aside from being the regulator of all health services and products, the DOH is the provider of special tertiary health care services and technical assistance to health providers and stakeholders. While pursuing its vision, the DOH adheres to the highest values of work, which are: Integrity The Department believes in upholding truth and pursuing honesty, accountability, and consistency in performing its functions. Excellence The DOH continuously strive for the best by fostering innovation, effectiveness and efficiency, pro-action, dynamism, and openness to change. Compassion and respect for human dignity Whilst DOH upholds the quality of life, respect for human dignity is encouraged by working with sympathy and benevolence for the people in need. Commitment With all our hearts and minds, the Department commits to achieve its vision for the health and development of future generations. Professionalism The DOH performs its functions in accordance with the highest ethical standards, principles of accountability, and full responsibility. Teamwork The DOH employees work together with a result-oriented mindset. Stewardship of the health of the people Being stewards of health for the people, the Department shall pursue sustainable development and care for the environment since it impinges on the health of the Filipinos. Together with its attached agencies, the DOH constituted of various central bureaus and services in the Central Office, Centers for Health Development (CHD) in every region, and DOH-retained hospitals performs its roles to continuously improve the countrys health care system.

DOH through the Years Before 1898 During the pre-Spanish period, traditional ways of healing (i.e., herbs and rituals) were widely used. Public health services in the Philippines began in 1577 when a Franciscan friar, Fr. Juan Clemente, established a dispensary for Manila indigents. In 1659, the dispensary became the San Juan de Dios Hospital. The Spaniards instituted a hospital system with 13 hospitals and intensified public health work with the creation of the Central Board of Vaccination and a Board of Health and Charity. Before the Americans came to the Philippines, there were already Medicos Titulares, which corresponds to todays provincial health workers.

1898 On June 23, 1898, the Department of Public Works, Education and Hygiene (currently known as Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Education, and Department of Health, respectively) was formally proclaimed by President Emilio Aguinaldo. Aguinaldos proclamation was not continued for they lost to the Americans. Through General Order No. 15, the Americans created a Board of Health for the City of Manila on September 29, 1898. Dr. T.H. Pardo de Tavera and Dr. Aristone Bautista Lim, together with three American surgeons, comprised the provisional board. Being that General Order No. 15 is American in nature, it aimed to protect the health of the American troops. Nevertheless, this American order started the institutional development of the current Department of Health (DOH).

1899 On August 26, 1899, the Board of Health was abolished while Dr. Guy Edie was appointed as the first Commissioner of Health. Registration of births, deaths, and marriages began during this time.

1901

The Philippine Commission created the Board of Health for the Philippine Islands, which served as the local health board, through Act No. 157 dated July 1, 1901. It became the Insular Board of Health when the provincial health boards and municipal health boards were created on December 2, 1901 through Act No. 307 and Act No. 308, respectively.

1905 With Act No. 1407, the Insular Board of Health and its functions were abolished and replaced by the Bureau of Health, being under the Department of Interior. Dr. Victor Heiser was the first Director of the Bureau of Health.

1906 Repealing Act No. 307, Philippine Commission Act No. 1487 ordered that the provincial boards of health be replaced with district health officers.

1912 Act No. 2156 of 1912, also referred to as Fajardo Act, consolidated municipalities into sanitary divisions and instigated todays Health Fund.

1915 In 1915, the Bureau of Health was renamed into Philippine Health Service, and later reverted back to its previous name. Dr. Vicente de Jesuswas the first Filipino Director of Health.

1932 The Reorganization Act of 1932or Act No. 4007 created the Office of the Commissioner of Health and Public Welfare with Dr. Basilio J. Valdez as its first Commissioner.

1941

On January 7, 1941, the Executive Order No. 317 formalized the Department of Public Health and Welfare with Dr. Jose Fabella as its first Department Secretary. The Department included the following: Bureau of Quarantine; health department of chartered cities; provincial, city, and municipal hospitals; dispensaries and clinics; public markets and slaughter houses; health resorts; and all charitable agencies.

1947 In October 1947, Executive Order No. 94 regulated reorganization in the Department of Public Health and Welfare. The Bureau of Public Welfare and the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) were transferred under the Office of the President of the Philippines. From then on, the Department was called Department of Health (DOH). Under DOH were Office of the Secretary, Bureau of Health, Bureau of Quarantine, Bureau of Hospitals, and all City Health Departments.

1950 Just three years after, the second reorganization of the Department was implemented through Executive Order No. 392. The Institute of Nutrition, Division of Biological Research, and Division of Food Technology were transferred from the Institute of Science to DOH. The Medical and Dental Services unit under the Bureau of Public Schools was transferred as the Division of School Medical and Dental Services under the Bureau of Health. There were also changes within the Department, namely: integration of the National Chest Center and TB section into a Tuberculosis Division; conversion of the Division of Laboratories into an Office of Public Health Research Laboratory; and conversion of the leprosy control section into a Division of Sanitaria under the Bureau of Hospitals.

1958 After a threat from the US Operations Mission to the Philippines, the most sweeping reorganization was implemented. Two Undersecretaries of Health the Undersecretary of Health and the Medical Services, and the Undersecretary of Special Services were created. Eight regional health offices were formed as the health services were decentralized to the regional, provincial, and municipal levels.

1969 Republic Act No. 6111, or the so-called Philippine Medical Care Act of 1969,authorized hospitalization, surgical, and medical expense benefits for the people.

1970 In 1970, health services were classified into primary, secondary, and tertiary levels through the Restructured Health Care Delivery System.

1972 At the onset of Martial Law, DOH was renamed to Ministry of Health and the regional offices increased from eight to twelve. The first Minister of Health was Dr. Clemente Gatmaitan.

1982 Under the Executive Order No. 851, the Integrated Provincial Health Office was created to reorganize the Ministry of Health. The Health Education and Manpower Development Service was also created.

1986-1987 The Ministry of Health regained its former name (Department of Health) with the Executive Order No. 119. Also, five (5) offices, headed by an undersecretary and an assistant secretary, were placed under the Secretary of Health. These offices are the Chief of Staff, Public Health Services, Hospital and Facilities Services, Standard and Regulations, and Management Service. Three regions (i.e., NCR, CAR, and ARMM) were added to the 12 regional health offices. A National Health Facilities, consisting of seven (7) special research centers and hospitals and eight (8) medical centers, was also created.

1991-1993

The Republic Act 7160 or Local Government Code of 1991 was fully implemented. The Office for Special Concerns was formed from the branching out of the Office of Public Health Services. The Office of Hospital Facilities, Standards and Regulation was created from the merging of two big offices. Health projects were intensified. Among these projects are National Micronutrient Campaign, Disaster Management, Urban Health and Nutrition Project, Traditional Medicine, Doctors to the Barrios Program, and "Lets DOH It"!

1999 Through the Executive Order 102, the functions and operations of DOH were to be aligned with the provisions of Administrative Code 1987 and RA 7160. This year, the Health Sector Reform Agenda of the Philippines 1999-2004 was launched. Reforms include: fiscal autonomy to government hospitals; funding for priority health programs; promoting the development of local health systems and assurance of effective performance; strengthening of capacities of health regulatory agencies and expanding coverage of the National Health Insurance Program (NHIP). The National Objectives for Health 1999-2004, which indicates the Philippines objectives to eradicate and control infectious diseases, major chronic illnesses and injuries, was also launched. This encourages healthy lifestyle and health-seeking behaviors towards the prevention of diseases.

2000 The Health Sector Reform Agenda (HSRA), being the major framework for health policies and investments, was institutionalized this year. The National Government Agencies, together with the national and local health stakeholders, and international partners, endorsed the HSRA for approval.

2001 In July 13, 2001, Sec. Manuel Dayrit signed the Administrative Order 37, stating the guidelines on the HSRA implementation plan. Thirteen convergence sites or advance implementation areas were established in this year.

2003 Through Administrative Order 50, the One-Script Systems Improvement Program was established to unify, synchronize, and target priority public health programs. Sixty-eight DOH-retained hospitals were provided with fiscal autonomy, allowing 100% retention and use of hospital income to improve health facilities.

2005 FOURmula ONE for Health(F1) was launched as a blueprint of reform implementation aiming for a more responsive health system, more equitable health financing, and better health outcomes. Within the medium term 20052010, F1 was devised to address the issues on fragmentation of the Philippine health system and inequity in health care. Also, F1 intended to achieve speedy, precise, and well-coordinated critical reforms to improve the health system of the country.

2006 This year, the DOH received both national and international recognitions from the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission (PAGC) and Guinness World Records Limited, respectively. The PAGC awarded DOH as the number one agency to fight corruption. In May of this year, DOH set a new Guinness World Record for the Most Number of Woman Breastfeeding Simultaneously. In terms of national studies and surveys, DOH also ranked first among the government agencies according to the Pulse Asia 3rd Quarter Survey.

2007 Four Administrative Orders AO 2007-0021, Harmonization and Streamlining of the Licensure System for Hospitals; AO 2007-0022, Violations Under the OSS Licensure System for Hospitals; AO 2007-0023, Schedule of Fees for the OSS Licensure System for Hospitals; and AO 2007-0024, Guidelines for the Licensure of DOH Hospitals were issued to support the establishment of the OSS Licensure System for Hospitals. The Technical Assistance Coordination Team (TACT) was created through the DPO 2007-2964 to harmonize the technical assistance provided to the DOH.

TACT, with its creative mechanisms, ensures that technical assistance efforts are suited to the needs of various offices. The Sector-wide Development Approach for Health (SDAH) was operationalized on November 15, 2007 through Administrative Order 20070038. SDAH was adopted in the implementation of F1 for Health to gain the development partners support in the race to unify the health sector.

2008 The Maternal, Neonatal, and Child Health and Nutrition Strategy (MNCHN) was pursued to address maternal and neonatal mortality. Republic Act No. 9502 or the Universally Accessible Cheaper and Quality Medicines Act of 2008 made quality medicines more accessible to every Filipino.

2010 With the appointment of Dr. Enrique T. Ona as the new Health Secretary came a new platform on health the Universal Health Care (UHC). This reform agenda aims to make essential health services, necessities, and quality health care available and accessible to all Filipinos. PhilHealth Sabado, as one of the initiatives to achieving UHC, was launched on October 2 of this year. Organizational Chart Functional Clusters for Kalusugan Pangkalahatan Administrative Service Bureau of Health Devices and Technology Bureau of Health Facilities and Services Bureau International Health Cooperation Bureau of Local Health Development Bureau of Quarantine and International Health Surveillance Finance Service

Food and Drug Administration Health Emergency Management Staff Health Human Resources Development Bureau Health Policy Development and Planning Bureau Information Management Service Integrity Development Committee Internal Audit Service Legal Service National Center For Health Facilities Development National Center for Disease Prevention and Control National Center for Health Promotion National Center for Pharmaceutical Access and Management National Epidemiology Center Philippine Blood Center Procurement and Logistics Service