I. PRE-AMERICAN OCCUPATION
Public health works began at the old Franciscan Convent in Intramuros where Fr. Juan Clemente put up a
dispensary in 1577 for treating indigents in Manila. This eventually became the San Juan de Dios Hospital
During Spanish time:
1. Creation of Board of Vaccinators to prevent smallpox
2. Creation of Board of Health
3. Construction of Carriedo Waterworks
4. First Medical School in the Philippines – UST
5. School of Midwifery
6. Public Health Laboratory
7. Forensic Medicine
Process of gaining and maintaining altitude (because the later years under Jones Law was successful)
The epidemiology of life threatening diseases was studied – diphtheria, yaws, dengue
Research in the field of health was promoted
UP School of Public Health was established to train public health leaders
Construction of additional leprosaria and provincial hospitals
Construction of Quezon Institute for PTB patients
Research and control of TB, malaria, leprosy and yaws
Development of Maternal and Child Health (MCH)
1939, creation of Department of Public Health and Welfare – Dr. Jose Fabella as the first secretary
1940, Bureau of Census and Statistics was created to gather vital statistics
In spite of development:
1. Inequitable distribution of health services remained a problem
2. 80% of those who died were never given medical attention
During this time, all public health activities were practically paralyzed
1987 Constitution – more provisions on health making comprehensive health care available
Active participation of private sector and NGO
Major activities influencing public health during this period:
1. Milk Code – required the marketing of breast milk substitute
2. Universal child and mother immunization
3. International safe motherhood initiative was launched to reduced maternal mortality rate
4. Act prohibiting discrimination against women (RA 6725)
5. National Epidemic Surveillance System (NESS) – this was made to track down the occurrence of 14 diseases with
potentials of causing outbreaks
6. National Drug Policy and Genetics Act – ensure the availability of safe, effective and affordable quality drugs (RA
6675)
7. Local Government Code – from national government to governors and mayors – devolution (RA 7160)
8. Organ Donation Act of 1991 (RA 7170) – Legalizing donation of all or body parts after death for specified purpose
“Health in the Hands of People” and “Let’s DOH it” – by then Sec. Juan Flavier
Continued to adopt PHC as a strategy
Memorable initiative during the leadership of Flavier:
1. National Immunization Day – BCG, DPT, OPV, MMR
2. Mother and Baby- Friendly Hospital Initiative – this strategy ensures the survival and health of children through
breast feeding
3. Promotion of Philippine Traditional Medicine – DOH and DOST
4. Hospitals as Center of Wellness – transformed 45 government hospitals from disease places to centers of wellness
5. Yosi Kadiri – Anti-smoking campaign
6. Araw ng Sangkap Pinoy – aimed to prevent vitamin A, iron and iodine deficiency
7. Voluntary Blood Donation Program
8. Kung Sila’y Mahal Mo Magplano – Family planning program
9. Doctors to the Barrio
- Laws:
1. RA 7394 – Consumer Act of the Philippines- an act providing penalties for manufacture, distribution and sales of
adulterated foods, drugs and cosmetics
2. RA 7610 – Special protection of children against child abuse, exploitation and discrimination
3. EO 39 – which created the Philippines National AIDS Council as a national policy and advisory body in the
prevention and control of HIV-AIDS
4. RA 7432 – Senior Citizen’s Act – which grant benefits and special privileges in order to maximize the contributions
of senior citizens to nation building
5. RA 7719 – The National Blood Services Act of 1994 which was passed to promote voluntary blood donation
6. RA 8172 – An act for Salt Iodization Nationwide (ASIN) – providing salt iodization nationwide approved in 1996 and
renamed FIDEL (Fortified for Iodine Elimination)
- Reodica’s Seven Strategy Program:
1. Expanded Program on Immunization (Oplan Alis Disease) – to eliminate polio measles and neonatal tetanus
2. Nutrition – vitamin A, iron and iodine utilization (Araw ng Sangkap Pinoy)
3. Family Planning
4. Tuberculosis prevention (Target, Stop TB!)
5. Environmental Sanitation (Tubig, Kubeta, Oresol)
6. STD-AIDS awareness prevention
7. Healthy Lifestyle Program