DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH (DOH)

In the Philippines, the Department of Health (DOH) is the leading healthcare

organization. By providing high-quality medical care and controlling the distribution of health
products and services, it is accountable for ensuring that all Filipinos have access to basic
public health services.

HEALTH PROGRAMS UNDER DOH

Adolescent Health and Development The Adolescent Health and Development

Program Program (AHDP) targets adolescents aged
10-19 years. It is mainly guided by the
Convention on the Rights of Children which
states that the program must be in the best
interests of the child.

According to the Department of Health's

(DOH) Administrative Order (AO) 2013-0013,
also known as the National Policy and
Strategic Framework on Adolescent Health
and Development Administrative Order, the
program's primary goal is to increase access
for Filipino youth to facilities, programs, and
healthcare providers that respond to
adolescents.

Aedes-Borne Viral Diseases Prevention The prevalence of aedes-borne viral diseases

and Control Program such as dengue is still a significant problem
that the country faces as it affects many
Filipinos that can lead to severe
 complications and even death.

Hence this program, aims to expand and

integrate the existing program to include the
prevention and control interventions for
various aedes-borne viral diseases such as
dengue, zika, and chikungunya, and other
diseases with similar vectors.

Barangay Nutrition Scholar (BNS) The Barangay Nutrition Scholar (BNS)

Program Program is a human resource development
strategy of the Philippine Plan of Action for
Nutrition, which involves the recruitment,
training, deployment and supervision of
volunteer workers or barangay nutrition
scholars (BNS). Presidential Decree No.
1569 mandated the deployment of one BNS
in every barangay in the country to monitor
the nutritional status of children and/or link
communities with nutrition and related service
providers. PD 1569 also mandated the NNC
to administer the program in cooperation with
local government units.

This program aims io be able to deliver

nutrition and nutrition-related services to the
barangay by caring for the malnourished and
the nutritionally vulnerable, mobilizing the
community, and linkage building

Belly Gud for Health The development of non-communicable

illnesses, which are currently one of the main
causes of mortality, morbidity, and disability in
the nation, is strongly correlated with
 overnutrition, including overweight and
obesity, which is a severe health concern.

The program will be conducted for the

community and to government, for the
promotion of healthy lifestyle activities and
reduction of noncommunicable diseases
among the people in the community.

Blood Donation Program Republic Act No. 7719, also known as the
National Blood Services Act of 1994,
promotes voluntary blood donation to provide
sufficient supply of safe blood and to regulate
blood banks. This act aims to inculcate public
awareness that blood donation is a
humanitarian act.

The National Voluntary Blood Services

Program (NVBSP) of the Department of
Health is targeting the youth as volunteers in
its blood donation program this year. In
accordance with RA No. 7719, it aims to
create public consciousness on the
importance of blood donation in saving the
lives of millions of Filipinos.

Cancer Control Program The National Integrated Cancer Control

Program was established under the Cancer
Control Division of the Disease Prevention
and Control Bureau (DPCB) in accordance
with Rule II Section 4 of the IRR of RA No.
11215 or the National Integrated Cancer
Control Act (NICCA). It serves as the
 foundation for all government initiatives
connected to cancer that seek to reduce the
prevalence of curable cancer, stop and
manage its recurrence, and ensure that
people have access to high-quality healthcare
for its treatment.

Chronic Kidney Disease Prevention and Majority of the increases in total morbidity
Control and mortality in the Philippines have actually
come from Non-Communicable Diseases
(NCDs), specifically Chronic Kidney Disease
(CKD). If left untreated, CKD can progress to
more severe complications such as
End-Stage Kidney Disease (ESKD) that now
requires more immediate and regular
interventions

Hence, this program aims to reinforce

strategies for the prevention and control of
CKDs such as lifestyle-related disease
prevention, facilitation of early detection and
evaluation, and proper disease management
for people with CKDs.
Dengue Prevention and Control Program Dengue is the fastest spreading vector-borne
disease in the world endemic in 100
countries·Dengue virus has four serotypes
(DENV1, DENV2, DENV3 and DENV4)

First infection with one of the four serotypes

usually is non-severe or asymptomatic, while
second infection with one of other serotypes
may cause severe dengue. Dengue has no
treatment but the disease can be early
managed. Dengue virus is transmitted by day
biting Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus
mosquitoes.

This program aims to achieve a point where

dengue infection no longer poses a threat to
public health due to its low morbidity and
fatality rates. A decrease of 90% by the end
of a 15-year period is the overall goal, along
with prevention and control of dengue virus
transmission.

Dental Health Program Oral disease continues to be a serious public

health problem in the Philippines. The
prevalence of dental caries on permanent
teeth has generally remained above 90%
throughout the years. About 92.4% of
Filipinos have tooth decay (dental caries) and
78% have gum diseases (periodontal
diseases) (DOH, NMEDS 1998). Although
preventable, these diseases affect almost
every Filipino at one point or another in his or
her lifetime.
 The Dental Health Program encourages daily
brushing and flossing, routine dental
appointments, dental sealants, and the use of
fluoride to strengthen teeth in order to
maintain a healthy mouth. It's also crucial to
keep your mouth and teeth safe from harm.

Early Childhood Care Development Early childhood refers to the foundational

Program stage of child development. It is characterized
by immense development in physical-motor,
cognitive, language, and socio-emotional
realms from a mother’s pregnancy through to
the age of 3 of the child.

This program facilitates access to health

services from pregnancy to 35 months old to
promote the physical growth and
development of the child. It also includes
providing responsive caregiving, opportunities
for early learning, and child’s safety and
security to enhance holistic development of
young children.

Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious The health crisis brought about by the
Diseases Program COVID-19 has proved that there is still a lack
of preparedness and response from our
country when it comes to combating large
scale epidemics and pandemics. Hence, this
program aims to have an organized system
that focuses on planning, development, and
management of outbreaks due to infectious
diseases that have the potential to become
epidemics and pandemics.
Expanded Program on Immunization The Expanded Program on Immunization
(EPI) was established in 1976 to ensure that
infants/children and mothers have access to
routinely recommended infant/childhood
vaccines. Six vaccine-preventable diseases
were initially included in the EPI: tuberculosis,
poliomyelitis, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis
and measles. In 1986, 21.3% “fully
immunized” children less than fourteen
months of age based on the EPI
Comprehensive Program review. Thus this
program offers to reduce the morbidity and
mortality among children against the most
common vaccine-preventable diseases.

Family Planning Program Family planning is among the strategies of

the country in reducing unintended
pregnancies thereby reducing the incidence
of unsafe abortions and maternal deaths

Hence, the National Family Planning Program

aims to ensure equitable access to FP
information and services to all regardless of
marital, socioeconomic status, religion,
ethnicity, and in any situation such as during
health emergencies and disasters. The
program aims to increase modern
contraceptive use and decrease unmet need
to achieve an 85% demand satisfied with
modern FP methods by the year 2030.

Filariasis Elimination Program The parasitic roundworm disease known as

filariasis, which is typically spread by
mosquito bites, is still on the rise in several
 provinces and regions of the nation.

Therefore, this program seeks to eradicate

filariasis as a public health issue by adopting
a comprehensive strategy and ensuring that
everyone has access to high-quality,
disease-fighting services, such as mass
treatment programs combined with parasite
control programs and elimination campaigns.

Food and Waterborne Diseases Food and Waterborne Diseases (FWBDs)

Prevention and Control Program refer to the limited group of illnesses
characterized by diarrhea, nausea, vomiting
with or without fever, abdominal pain,
headache, and body malaise.

Therefore, the goal of this program is to

decrease morbidity and mortality caused by
FWBDs and outbreaks through case
management, lab diagnosis, health
promotion, policy creation, logistics
management, research and M&E, as well as
surveillance and interagency cooperation.

Food Fortification Program Fortification as defined by Codex

Alimentarius is the addition of one or more
essential nutrients to food, whether or not it is
normally contained in the food, hence this
program’s purpose is to prevent or correct a
demonstrated deficiency of one or more
nutrients in the population or specific
population groups.

Healthy and Productive Ageing Program The Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010
 (Republic Act 9994) and Republic Act 9257
(The Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2003)
both require the Healthy and Productive
Ageing program, which is designed to
promote senior citizens' health and wellness
while also easing the conditions of elderly
people who are suffering from degenerative
diseases.

This program's main goals are to improve

elderly people's quality of life and strengthen
the nation by ensuring that everyone has
access to high-quality healthcare.

HIV, AIDS and STI Prevention and Control Zero new infections, zero prejudice, and zero
Program AIDS-related deaths are the goals of the
National HIV, AIDS and STI Prevention and
Control Program (NASPCP). Its goal is to
reverse the trend of the HIV pandemic by
bringing the expected yearly infections to less
than 7,000 cases by 2022. Its mission is to
enhance access to and utilization of
preventative primary health care services for
HIV and STI.

Infant and Young Child Feeding Program Infants and young children must develop and
grow during their first two years of life.

Hence, this program aims to provide Infant

and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) skills and
training to be taught to mothers especially in
the critical years of their infant and young
children.
Integrated Helmnith Control Program Soil-transmitted Helminthiasis (STH), caused
by common roundworms, whipworms, and
hookworms, remains a public health concern
in the Philippines.

As such, this program aims to reduce the

Cumulative Prevalence of STH to less than
20% and Prevalence of Moderate to Heavy
Intensity Infection (MHII) to less than 2%.

Integrated Management of Childhood Integrated Management of Childhood Illness

Illness Program (IMCI) is a strategy for reducing the mortality
and morbidity associated with the major
causes of childhood illness.

This strategy primarily aims to reduce death,

illness and disability, and to promote
improved growth and development among
children under 5 years of age. It includes both
preventive and curative elements that are
implemented by families and communities, as
well as health facilities.

Leprosy Control Program The public health sector was able to

successfully assert that leprosy is not a
burden in the majority of our communities
since leprosy is no longer regarded as a
national security concern in the Philippines.
However, there is still an area of concern at
the subnational level with very low cases in
different parts of the country.

In order to attain zero transmission and

impairment by 2022, the National Leprosy
 Control Programs intends to maintain the
disease's remarkable progress toward
eradication. This program's specific goal is to
guarantee the delivery of thorough,
integrated, and high-quality leprosy services
at all levels of the nation's health care
system.

Malaria Control and Elimination Program Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused

by plasmodium parasites transmitted by
anopheles mosquito or rarely through blood
transfusion and sharing of contaminated
needles. Hence, this program aims to
eliminate malaria by adopting a health system
focused approach to achieve universal
coverage with quality-assured malaria
diagnosis and treatment, strengthen
governance and human resources, maintain
the financial support needed, and ensure
timely and accurate information management.

Mental Health Program The Mental Health Act, also known as

Republic Act 11036, was passed to improve
and integrate the delivery of mental health
services to the Universal Health Care system
by promoting and defending the legal rights of
people who use psychosocial health services
and increasing financial support for mental
health.

This program aims to improve access to

high-quality care and recovery in order to
achieve the best possible level of health and
be able to fully participate in society. To
 promote the general well-being of all
Filipinos. To prevent mental, psychosocial,
and neurologic disorders.

Micronutrient Supplementation Program The country continues to struggle with a

serious issue, which is the high prevalence of
malnutrition. There are recognized
intergenerational effects of micronutrient
deficiencies, which are the main cause of
malnutrition, particularly in young children.

Hence, this program aims to provide

supplementation and nutrition programs for
pregnant mothers, infants, and children to
reduce the prevalence of micronutrient
deficiencies below public health significance.

National Tuberculosis Control Program This program provides service where it

reduce TB burden (TB incidence and TB
mortality), to achieve catastrophic cost of
TB-affected households, and to responsively
deliver TB service in areas that are affected
or in the community.

Newborn Screening Program The crucial public health policy of newborn

screening (NBS) permits the early detection
and treatment of a number of congenital
abnormalities that, if untreated, may result in
mental retardation and/or death.

It has been an integral part of routine

newborn care in most developed countries for
five decades, either as a health directive or
mandated by law. In the Philippines, it is a
 service available since 1996.

Rabies Prevention and Control Program Effective and safe vaccines to prevent the
disease in humans and animals have been
available for decades. However, its
elimination is hampered by poverty and
ignorance about the disease and its
prevention. Hence, this program aims to
prevent and control rabies infection by
providing and promoting accessible vaccines,
along with rabies education and awareness,
to the public

Sanitation Program Sanitation Program aims to promote hygienic

and proper management of human excreta
and domestic wastewater. This was
mandated under PD 856 or the Sanitation
Code of the Philippines, along with its
Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) in
Chapter 17. This program provides
accessible facilities along with improved
policies that reinforce proper human waste
management and sanitation.

Schistosomiasis Control and Elimination Schistosomiasis japonicum is an acute and

Program chronic disease caused by parasitic worms
called trematodes or blood flukes. Hence, this
program aims to eradicate the transmission
and incidence of Schistosomiasis Infection in
all endemic barangays by 2025.

Smoking Cessation Program The Tobacco Control component of the

Lifestyle Related Diseases Prevention and
Control Program primarily aims to reduce
non-communicable diseases caused by
 cigarette smoking. The goal of this program is
to protect people from secondhand smoke,
help current smokers quit, and stop young
people from picking up the habit.

Unang Yakap Essential Newborn Care is a simple

cost-effective newborn care intervention that
can improve neonatal as well as maternal
care. This serves as a protocol for the new
life. For a newborn baby's growth and
development, it is essential to put their health
first. The EINC protocols or the Unang Yakap
Campaign should be included in a mother's
birth plans due to the fact that they will be
beneficial to both the mother and her unborn
child.

Water Safety Program Water Safety Program aims to provide safe

and accessible drinking water for the public.
In order for drinking water to be considered
safe for human consumption, it must
constantly meet the standards defined by the
Philippine National Standards for Drinking
Water. To ensure the efficiency and
compliance of all providers of drinking water,
measures for water quality surveillance are
also implemented within this program.

Women and Children Protection Program This program aims to provide medical
assistance to violence against women and
their children (VAWC) survivors and increase
cases appropriately managed in health
facilities.
 The Women and Children Protection Program
(WCPP) provides technical and management
support to ensure that Women and Children
Protection Units (WCPUs) are established
and operational as mandated under Section
40 of Republic Act 9262.

References

Health Programs | Department of Health Website. (2023).

https://doh.gov.ph/health-programs