 1898-1936

 In 1900, the military government and the American civil government instituted health measure
which greatly transform Manila and other regions into clear, more healthful centers of
population.
 On September 1, n1910, Philippine General Hospital opened and Victor Heiser was drafted as
the director.
 Researches regarding tropical medicine, leprosy, malaria, and choleras in particular were done
and were published as original articles.
 Primitive culture, customs, and attitudes was still prevalent among the people and so,
sometimes “strong arm” military methods were often necessary to implement the health
programs (Heiser, 1936).
 Anesthesiologists were not available back then, electrocardiograph was a huge medicine where
the shadow of vibrating delicate quartz string was recorded in a running strip of photographic
paper, radium needles were implanted – there were no cobalt machines, no test for enzymes
and non-specific blood test Folin Wu is done, no antibiotics yet, and no culture and sensitivity
test were done.
 Early years of the regime was dedicated to public health, organization of government’s
administrative system, fight against communicable diseases, and improvement of sanitation of
all over the country.
 Medical and dental examination for children were done, laws on manufacture and distribution of
therapeutic products were passed to wipe out fakes and dangerous drugs.
 City of Manila Board of Health was created on September 29, 1898. First action s were the
implementation of the old Spanish Vaccination Law and the mobilization of a corps city
vaccinators to control smallpox epidemics.
 The hospitals for small pox, lepers and for victims of venereal diseases were established.
 To control stray dogs and other anbimals and to inspecxt meat markets, veterinary corps was
organized.
 Dr. Guy L. Edie was appointed as the first commissioner of Health on July 6, 1899. He established
the plague hospital; instituted the registration of births, deaths, and marriages, organized
municipal dispensary and bacteriological laboratories, and continued the campaign against small
pox.
 Sanitary and health conditions of the islands was described as “deplorable”, with little sanitary
water supply, filthy open canals and esteros wanton waste disposal, insane and lepers just roam
around, endemic smallpox, cholera, dysentery and plague erupting repeatedly into epidemics;
beri-beri, malaria, and tuberculosis is in high prevalence.
 Insular Board of Health was created in July 1, 1901, with the passage of Act No. 157; by virtue of
Acts 307 and 308 enacted in December 1901, the extended public health services, provincial and
municipal health records were organized. However, it was abolished thru Act No. 1407 in 1905
and was transferred as the Bureau of Health.
 Bureau of Government Laboratories was established on July 1, 1901 thru the Act No. 156. These
provided biological, chemical, and serum laboratories for the production of vaccines sera . This
was later turned to Bureau of Science in 1905 by Act No. 1407.
 Medicinal plants were uses whenever suited due to scarcity of medicines.
 Quarantine hospitals organized quarantine services. In Cebu, Iloilo, and Manila, marine hospitals
were set up. Services for the control of epidemics. Moreover, vessels were disinfected,
importations of fresh vegetables were prohibited, and suspected carriers were put into
detention.
 Systematic vaccination, rat control, sanitary health programs, and provision of potable water
supply were carried out.
 The first garbage crematory was established in Mania in 1899.
 In 1906, sewage system, regulation of the establishments, and maintenance of burial grounds
and cemeteries started.
 In 1902, the Manila Medical Society (MMS) was organized by physicians in public health services
and in 1902, the Philippine Islands Medical Association.
 Act No. 1415 in 1905 was passed authorizing the establishment of the Philippine Medical School
which formally opened in 1907. In 1908, new University of the Philippines was established and
the first unit was the Philippine Medical School, renamed to College of Medicine.
 In late 1908’s the Philippine General Hospital was constructed as the training center of the UP-
COM which started accepting patients in September 1, 1910.
 In 1915, through Act No. 2468, Bureau of Health was reorganized into the Philippine Health
Service. Advisory of Hygiene Council was created consisting representatives from four different
medschools. Also, a sanitary commission was created. In 1941, the bureau was raised to
department status and called as the Department of Health and Welfare. It had supervision over
all health agencies and hospitals all throughout the country except PGH.
 On February 1, 1912, by Act 2116, a committee on infant mortality was created due to frequent
deaths of infants caused by and infection of the umbilical stump at birth, the tetanus
neonatorum.
 On February 5, 1915, Public Welfare Board was created to coordinate activities of government
and private organizations in doing health and social welfare projects.
 In rural areas, puericulture centers (personated by nurses and midwives and local health officers)
were established- first, in Manila in 1912 by the Women’s Club of Manila under the
government’s technical supervision.
 In 1916, Act 2633, or the “Osmeña Bill”, was enacted by the Philippine Legislature calling for
establishment of puericulture centers nationwide.
 In February 5, 1915, Board of Dental Hygiene supported the dental health program, for school
children.
 On July 29, 1910, Philippine Tuberculosis Society (PTS), a government-assisted private endeavor,
was formed to conduct nationwide campaign against tuberculosis. This disease caused the
deaths of one-sixth in Manila.