Profile | Organizational Chart | DOH Ministers/Secretaries | Officials | Milestones | Address
DOH Milestone
| date | milestone |
| 23 June 1898 | Creation of the Department of Public Works, Education & Hygiene (now the Department of Public Works & Highways, Department of Education Culture & Sports, and Department of Health, respectively) through the Proclamation of President Emilio Aguinaldo. |
| 29 September 1898 | Establishment of the Board of Health for the City of Manila under General Orders No. 15. |
| 1899 - 1905 | Abolition of the Board of Health and appointment of Dr. Guy L. Edie as the first Commissioner of Public Health. |
| Act. No. 157 of the Philippine Commission - creation of the Board of Health for the Philippine Islands; it also acted as the Board of Health for the city of Manila | |
| Acts Nos. 307, 308 & 309-establishment of the Provincial and Municipal Boards of Health, completing the health organisation in accordance with the territorial division of the Islands. | |
| Act. No. 1407- (also the "Reorganization Act" ) abolition of the Board of Health and its functions and activities were taken over by the Bureau of Health | |
| 1906 | Passage of Act No. 1487 of the Philippine Commission repealing Act No. 307 wherein the provincial Board of Health gave way to the Office of the District Health Officer |
| 1912 | Passage of Act. No. 2156, so- called "Fajardo Act", which authorized the consolidation of municipalities into sanitary division and established what is now known as the "Health Fund" |
| 1915 | Changing of the name of the Bureau of Health to the Philippine Health Service, which was later on changed to its former name |
| 1932 | Passage of Act No. 4007, also "the Reorganization Act of 1932", which created the Office of the Commissioner of Health & Public Welfare, the Philippine General Hospital, and the five examining boards (medical, pharmaceutical, dental, optical and nursing) |
| 1 January 1941 | Creation of the Department of Health & Public Welfare as provided for in Executive Order No. 317, series of 1941. The Department was under the Secretary of Health & Public Welfare and also included the Bureau of Quarantine; the health department of chartered cities; the provincial, city and municipal hospitals; dispensaries and clinics, the public markets and slaughter houses; the health resorts; and all charitable and relief agencies. However, the Philippine General Hospital was detached from the Department and transferred to the Office of the President of the Philippines. |
| 1947 | Reorganization
of government offices under Executive Order No. 94, series of 1947 with
the transfer of the Bureau of Public Welfare to the Office of the
President and the Department was renamed Department of Health (DOH). Under
this set-up were the following:
|
| 1950 | Under Executive Order No. 329, s. 1950, the Division of Tuberculosis, Health Education and Information , and Nursing were placed under the Office of the Secretary. The Office of the Public Research Laboratory was also created. |
| 1958 | The creation of eight regional health offices and two Undersecretaries of Health: the Undersecretary of health and the Medical Services and the Undersecretary of Special Services. |
| 1971 | The creation of the Food and Drug Administration, Bureau of Disease Intelligence Center, Malaria Eradication Service, Bureau of Dental Health Service, the National Comprehensive Maternal and Child Health / Family Planning Program, National Nutrition Program, and the National Schistosomiasis Control Commission, among others. |
| 1972 | Through Letter of Implementation No. 8, pursuant to Presidential Decree No.1, Sept.24, 1972, the DOH was renamed Ministry of Health. The National Cancer Center and Radiation Health Service were created. The Ministry was divided into 12 regions covering several provinces and cities under a regional health director. Attached offices were the Philippine Medical Care Commission, the Dangerous Drugs Board, National Nutrition Council, Population Commission, National Schistosomiasis Control Council and the Tondo General Hospital. |
| 1982 | Under Executive Order No. 851, the Health Education and Manpower Development Service was created, and the Bureau of Food and Drugs assumed the functions of the Food and Drug Administration. |
| 1986 | The Ministry of Health became Department of Health again. |
| 1987 | Another re-organization under Executive Order No. 119, which placed under the Secretary of Health five offices headed by an undersecretary and an assistant secretary. These offices are the Chief of Staff, Public Health Services, Hospital and Facilities Services, Standard and Regulations, and Management Service. The National Capital Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, and Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao were added to the 12 regional health offices. A National Health Facilities was created composed of seven special research centers and hospitals and eight medical centers. New buildings were erected and old ones were renovated within the San Lazaro Compound. The expanded program on Immunization and the National Drug Policy (the implementation of the Generics Law) were given importance. |
| 1992 | Full implementation of Republic Act No. 7160 or Local Government Code. The DOH changed its role from one of implementation to one of governance. Significant change: branching out of the Office of the Public Health Services to form the Office for Special Concerns. Two big offices merged to become the Office of Hospital Facilities, Standards and Regulation. Special projects were highlighted like the NID. National Micronutrient Campaign, Disaster Management, Urban Health and Nutrition Project, Traditional Medicine, Doctors to the Barrios Program, "Let’s DOH It"! became a national battlecry. |
| 1999 | The functions and operations of the DOH was directed to become consistent with the provisions of Administrative Code 1987 and RA 7160 through Executive Order 102 |
| 1999 | The Health Sector Reform Agenda of the Philippines, 1999-2004 was launched. The reforms are: provide fiscal autonomy to government hospitals; secure funding for priority health programs; promote the development of local health systems and ensure its effective performance; strengthen the capacities of health regulatory agencies and expand coverage of the National Health Insurance Programs. |
| 1999 | National Objectives for Health 1999-2004 was launched. This states the Philippines objectives for the eradication and control of infectious diseases commonly affecting our people, major chronic illnesses and injuries that compromise lives of the productive sector. It encourages promotion of healthy lifestyle and health-seeking behaviors to prevent or control certain debilitating illness and life-threatening diseases |
| 1999 | Creation of the National Health Planning Committee (NHPC) and the establishment of Inter-local Health Zones (ILHZs) throughout the country through EO205. This promotes, encourages and ensures the full and integration of delivery and development of health care services throughout the country. It provides for the participation, involvement and collaboration of all local government units with major stakeholders namely Department of Health and Department of Interior and Local Government. |