DOH Profile

Department of Health

Vision - The leader of health for all in the Philippines

Mission - Guarantee equitable, sustainable and quality health for all Filipinos, especially the
poor, and to lead the quest for excellence in health.

Department of Health Profile

The recent change in political leadership provides the Philippines with the chance to revitalize
the health care system. This is in line with the administration’s thrust to prioritize delivery of
services to the masses and improve the quality of life of all Filipinos, especially the poor. The
differences in health status among various groups and regions in the country have widened
through the years. These disparities indicate deficient economic and social policies, showing the
need to reprioritize interventions to promote equity, fairness and immediate action. Unnecessary
and unfair gaps in the health care delivery system that deprive the poor of access to basic
services must be reduced. The system must work efficiently to reach the highest possible health
standards that can be shared by all Filipinos, given the limited resources available for health.
Although socioeconomic differences significantly influence health status, the equitable
distribution of quality health services is an important measure of fairness in the country.
Revitalizing the health care system must be seen within the broader context of several forces
affecting the delivery of basic health services in the past two decades. Among these factors are
the devolution of health services to local governments, passage of national legislation for
universal coverage for health through social insurance, the epidemiologic shift and current
double burden of disease brought about by the rise in degenerative diseases and the reemergence
of previously controlled infectious diseases, demographic trends pointing to longer life span,
greater number of adolescents and youth, rapid urbanization, industrialization, environmental
degradation and climate change. Under these realities, the health sector must work to attain a
common vision of health for all Filipinos. Its mission is to ensure accessibility and quality of
health care to improve the quality of life of all Filipinos, especially the poor.

The DOH Offices

The DOH is composed of about 17 central offices, 16 Centers for Health Development located in
various regions, 70 hospitals and 4 attached agencies.

Central Office

The central office is composed of the Office of the Secretary and the following:

Office of the Secretary

The following comprise the staff support services to the Secretary of Health: Legal Service and
Internal Audit Service, the Media Relations Group and the Public Assistance Group including 3
major Zonal Offices of the DOH located in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. These Zonal Offices
are headed by an Undersecretary and supported by an Assistant Secretary. These offices are
mandated to coordinate and monitor the implementation the Health Sector Reform Agenda, the
National Health Objectives and the Local Government Code with the various Centers for Health
Development.

Policy and Standards Developemnt for Service Delivery Cluster

It is composed of National Center for Disease Prevention and Control (NCDPC), National
Epidemiology Center (NEC), National Center for Health Facilities and Services (NCHFD),
National Center for Health Promotion (NCHP), Philippine National Aids Council (PNAC), and
Health Emergency Service (HEMS).

Sectoral Management and Coordinating Team Cluster

It is composed of the Bureau of International Health Cooperation (BIHC), Health Human

Resource Development Bureau (HHRDB), Health Policy Development Planning Bureau
(HPDPB), Bureau of Local Health Development (BLHD), and Information Management
Service.

Policy Standards Development for Health Regulation Cluster

It is composed of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Bureau of Health Facilities and
Services (BHFS), Bureau of Health Devices and Technology (BHDT). Bureau of Quarantine and
International Surveillance (BQIS), and Procurement Service.

Special Concerns and Projects

It includes Philippine Institute for Traditional and Alternative Healthcare (PITAHC)

Internal Management Support

It is composed of Administrative Service (AS) and Finance Service (FS).

Center for Health Development

Responsible for field operations of the Department in its administrative region and for providing
catchment area with efficient and effective medical services. It is tasked to implement laws,
regulation, policies and programs. It is also tasked to coordinate with regional offices of the other
Departments, offices and agencies as well as with the local governments.

DOH Hospitals
Provides hospital-based care; specialised or general services, some conduct research on clinical
priorities and training hospitals for medical specialisation.

Attached Agencies

The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation is implementing the national health insurance law,
administers the medicare program for both public and private sectors. The Dangerous Drugs
Board on the other hand, coordinates and manages the dangerous drugs control program. The
other two agencies are Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care and the
Philippine National AIDS Council.

Reference:

http://portal.doh.gov.ph/about_doh/profile
Profile
The Department of Health (DOH) is the principal health agency in the Philippines. It is
responsible for ensuring access to basic public health services to all Filipinos through the
provision of quality health care and regulation of providers of health goods and services.

Milestones
Milestones are the significant development event or accomplishment of the Department of
Health.

Organizational Chart
This contains organizational structure of different office within the Department of Health which
describe their administrative and functions structure.

Directory of Key Officials

This includes contact information of key official of DOH Central Office, CHDs, DOH Hospitals
and Attached Agencies

DOH Location Map

Graphical representation showing the location of the DOH.
Philippine Institute of Traditional and
Alternative Health Care
(PITAHC)

PRESENT ACTIVITIES
The interim organizational structure of PITAHC, staff complement as well as respective
programs and special projects were formulated based on the vision of PITAHC and also to
address the seven objectives of the Institute. PITAHC's vision is "Traditional and alternative
health care in the hands of the people", the concept of which is parallel with the Primary Health
Care's vision i.e. Health in the hands of the people.

The following programs and activities have already been initiated:

1. The Research and Development Division is responsible for the conduct of priority
TAHC research agenda that will have direct impact on public health care. These
include the completion of Phase 3 clinical trials for ampalaya and the documentation
of different indigenous healing modalities. Research, as the basis of nutritional
guidelines, will be done by this Division.
2. The Public Information Division takes charge of promotion and advocacy of
PITAHC programs, products, services, facilities and activities through multi-media
approach. Well-being, PITAHC's bi-monthly newsletter and the PITAHC website are
some of the strategies to undertake advocacy and promotion. Latest information on
TAHC products, technologies, medical findings, seminars and conventions here and
abroad are also included in the newsletter.

PITAHC has a Well-being library, the facilities and materials of which is open to
those who would like to read and research on specific topics on traditional medicine
and complementary/alternative therapies. Audio-video materials, books, magazines
and other pertinent materials are availabale in a cozy, comfortable ambiance where
reading becomes a pleasure.

Aside from regular participation in the annual Bio-Search and other local trade
exhibits, PITAHC also joins international seminars, conventions and trade exhibits to
promote its herbal medicine products as well as get insights on how to increase
and/or improve PITAHC's current product lines.

3. The Education and Training Division handles various training activities. The
Trainings on Community-Based Acupressure and Herbal Medicine
Preparation is conducted upon request while the Orientation Seminar Series on
the Different Traditional and Alternative Modalities, a regular activity of the
Institute, is conducted every Friday. The Food as Medicine Program was
conceptualized as an educational entertainment to be conducted in selected schools
in Metro Manila.
 The Division will soon be offering an online training course on the different traditional
and alternative health care modalities.

PITAHC has a seminar room which can be rented on a first come, first served basis
for a certain fee.

4. The Special Projects Division is currently working on establishing the database on

TAHC with the assistance of the Technical Advisory Council composed of expert
practitioners on various forms of TAHC modalities. They hold regular monthly
meetings. The database can be accessed in the PITAHC website.
5. The Standards and Accreditation Division is responsible for formulating
standards and guidelines for the practice of various forms of TAHC modalities. Such
standards are pre-requisites in the development of the accreditation system. At
present, three standards were drafted for consultation and finalization with the
concerned technical experts or practitioners of these modalities. These are
Acupuncture for Physicians, Acupuncture for Non-Medical Practitioners, and Tui Na
Massage. This Division also facilitates the formulation of the corresponding code of
ethical practice for the modalities.
6. The Products Division is in-charge with the promotion, marketing, distribution and
sales of quality, affordable and conveniently available herbal medicines and other
herbal products to customers. Geared towards the delivery of quality herbal products
to its customers, the division is committed to improve and develop its present
products in terms of product packaging and product improvement/development.

Reference:

http://www.doh.gov.ph/pitahc/Present_Activities.html