MILESTONES

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 were 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 were 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 healthseeking 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 2007-0038. 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.

Millennium Development Goals (MDGs):

1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
2. Achieve universal primary education
3. Promote gender equality and empower women
4. Reduce child mortality rates
5. Improver maternal health
6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases
7. Ensure environmental sustainability
8. Develop a global partnership for development
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Transforming our world: the 2030
Agenda for Sustainable Development:
1. No poverty
2. Zero Hunger
3. Good Health and Well-being
4. Quality Education
5. Gender Equality
6. Clean Water and Sanitation
7. Affordable and Clean Energy
8. Decent Work and Economic Growth
9. Industry, innovation and Infrastructure
10.Reduced Inequalities
11.Sustainable Cities and Communities
12.Responsible Consumption and Production
13.Climate Action
14.Life Below Water
15.Life on Land
16.Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
17.Partnerships for the Goals
Republic Act:
Republic Act No. 9502
An act providing for cheaper and quality medicines, amending for the purpose
Republic Act No. 8293 or the intellectual property code, Republic Act No. 6675 or
the Generics Act of 1988, and Republic Act No. 5921 or the Pharmacy Law, and
for other purposes
Republic Act No. 10606
An act amending Republic Act No. 7875, otherwise known as the "National Health
Insurance Act of 1995", as amended, and for other purposes

Republic Act No. 10152

An Act Providing for Mandatory Basic Immunization Services for Infants and
Children, Repealing For the Purpose Presidential Decree No. 996, As Amended
Republic Act No. 10354
An Act Providing For A National Policy on Responsible Parenthood and
Reproductive Health
Republic Act No. 10645
An act providing for the mandatory Philhealth coverage for all Senior Citizens,
amending for the purpose Republic Act No. 7432, as amended by Republic Act
No. 9994, otherwise known as the "Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010"
Republic Act No. 10410
An act recognizing the age from zero (0) to eight (8) years as the first crucial
stage of educational development and strengthening the early childhood care
and development system, appropriating funds therefor and for other purposes
Republic Act No. 10747
An Act Promulgating a Comprehensive Policy in Adddressing the Needs of
Persons with Rare Disease.
Republic Act No. 10640
An act to further strengthen the anti-drug campaign of the government,
amending for the purpose section 21 of Republic Act No. 9165, otherwise known
as the "Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002