Historical Background of

Public Health
(Philippine Setting)
Pre-Spanish and Spanish Periods
Pre-Spanish and Spanish Periods
- Traditional health care practices were
observed (use of herbs and rituals for
healing)
- First dispensary for indigent patients of
Manila ran by a Franciscan Friar began in
1577
- Creation of the Board of Vaccinatorsin
1806 to prevent smallpox
- Medicos titulares, equivalent to provincial
health offficers were created together with
the board of health
 1885, maritime quarantine was instituted
 1876, construction of theCarriedo
waterworks
 1972, founding of medical school (UST), a
school of midwifery in 1879 and a public
health laboratory in 1883
 1892, introduction of medicos forensic
(forensic medicine)
 June 23, 1898
- the Department of Public Works , Education
and Hygiene was created by virtue of a
decree signed by President EmilioAguinaldo
The American Military
Government
( 1898 – 1907)
 Control of epidemics such as cholera,
smallpox and plagues
 Fight against communicable diseases such as
leprosy, diarrhea, malaria and beri-beri
 Establishment of health organization and
adminstration and general sanitation
Public Health Activities
1. Established a garbage crematory (1899)
2. Approved the first sanitary ordinance and
rat control measures (1901)
3. Established technologically that
contaminated water and unclean vegetables
were important factors in the control of
amoebic dysentery while Anoepheles
minimus was pointed as the vector of
malaria (1904)
Public Health Activities
4. Cholera vaccine was first tried (1905)
followed by compulsary vaccination of
school children
5. Confirmed the theory that plague in man
comes from infected rats (1905)
6. Opened leper colony in Culion and
detained lepers (1906)
7. Founded the Manila Medical Society and the
Phil. Islands Medical Association (1902-1903)
Public Health Activities
8. Opened UP College of Medicine
with Preventive Medicine as one of
the departments (1907)
9. Established the Bureau of Science in 1905
The Philippine Assembly
( 1907 - 1916)
1908
1. The search for germ carriers was instituted.
2. New waterworks in Manila were inaugurated
3. Nursing students who began studies were
recruited by sponsors.
4. Employers Liability Law was made
1909

1. Hygiene and Physiology were included in

the curriculum of public elementary school.
2. Anti-TB campaign started.
3. First sanitary survey of rural community was
conducted.
4. Results of first nutrition survey were
announced.
1910

1. PTSI was organized.

2. Pastuer Prophylaxis treatment against
rabies was offered.
3. PGH was opened.
1911
 Eradication of beri-beri among Philippine
scouts by means of a simple change in diet
was demonstrated.

1912
1. Use of anti-typhoid vaccine was initiated.
2. Hypochlorite of lime was first used for
treating the water supply in Manila.
3. Vitamin defieciency was found to be the
caused of beri-beri which ultimately
culminated in the isolation of Vit B.
Othiamine.
1913
1. Etiology of amoebic dysentery was made
clear.
2. Dry vaccine against smallpox was first used.
3. A graduate course in hygiene and tropical
medicine was first offered at the UPCollege
of Medicine.
1914
 Tiqui-tiqui was manufactured and
distributed to treat beri-beri.
 First “clean up week” inaugurated.
The Jone Law Year
( 1916 - 1936)
 Characterized by retrogression rather that by
progression in health
 CDR and IMR rose.
 Deaths from smallpox, cholera, typhoid,
malaria, beri-beri and TB increased.
 Campaign agianst hookwork was launched.
 Anti-dysentery vaccine was first tried locally.
 First training course for sanitary inspector.
 The mechanism of transmission of dengue
through Aedes Egypti was successfully
studied.
 Required notification and inoculation of
reportable diseases.
 Governor General Frank Murphy
- launched a well – designed public health
and social welfare programs to raise the
health level of Filipinos
The Commonwealth Period
( 1936 - 1942)
 The UP School of Public Health was
estblished.
 Creation of Department of Public Health and
Welfare ( Commonwealth Act No. 430)
 The Bureau of Census and Statistics was
created.
 Establishment of charity clinics – Philippines
Charity Sweepstakes.
The Japanese Occupation
( 1941 - 1945)
 paralyzed all activities
 activities for health
- handling emergencies
- prevention of occurrence of epidemics
- regulations for slaughtering of cattle,
hogs and carabaos
- Creation of the Board of Nutritional
Research.
The Philippine Independence
(1945)
 confronted with grave rebuilding of the
nation’s economy , restoring peace and order,
coupled with facing the challenges and
responsibilities of a newly attained
independent nationhood.
 DDT – larvacide for control of malaria
 mass case finding survey and mass BCG
immunization for TB control
 Food Drug Administration created (1963)
The Martial Law Years
(1972 - 1986)
 Implementation of Restructured Health Care
Delivery system (primary, secondary, tertiary)
 Adoption of Primary Health Care (PHC) on
September 11, 1981
 Oral Rehydration Tharapy – one of the
thrusts of DOH is the control of diarrheal
diseases
 Community based health programs started.
 Nutrition Council of the Phils. created.
 RITM – research arm of DOH in infectious
and tropical diseases
The EDSA Revolution
(1986)
 Ministry of Health renamed as Department
of Health
 Five DOH office created ( E.O No. 119)
- Chief of Staff, Public Health, Hospitals
and Facilities, Standard and Regulation and
Management
The Aquino Administration
(1986 - 1992)
Legislations and DOH Activities
 Milk Code ( E.O. No. 51)
 Universal Child and Mother Imumunization
(Proclamation No. 6)
 International Safe Montherhood Initiative
 RA 6725
 Formation of Population and Development
Foundation
 National epidemic Surveillance System
Legislations and DOH Activities
 RA 6675 – National drug Policy and Generics
Act of 1988
 RA 7160- Local Government Code of 1991
 RA 7170 – Organ DonationAct
 RA 7305 – Magna Carta for Public Health
Workers
 RA 7277 – Magna Carta for Disabled Persons
The Ramos Administration
(1992)
 Shifted from curative to preventive and
promotice care
 Health services shifted from the central
office to the local goverments

 MEDIC – Media-friendly, Exciting, Doable,

Innovative and Current
 Let’s DOH it! – national battlecry.
Major Projects of Dr. Flavier
as the DOH Secretary
 Anti-Smoking Campaign – Yosi Kadiri
 Micro-nutrient Campaign – Araw ng Sangkap
pinoy
 Voluntary blood donation
 Family Planning – Kung sila’y mahal mo,
Magplano
 Water for life
 Oplan Sagipmata
 Oplan Bating Buhay
Major Projects of Dr. Flavier
as the DOH Secretary

 Doctors to the Barrios

 Disaster Management
 Urban Health and Nutrition Program
 Kayang-kaya ang Cancer