Health and Safety in Philippines

The Department of Health (DOH) is the official arm of government responsible for ensuring quality health of all Filipinos as well as administering and monitoring all health-related matters in the Philippines. The DOH has a total of 18 agencies and bureaus scattered all over the country with thousands accredited hospitals and clinics.

According to the 2004 Philippine Health Statistics, the top ten leading causes of morbidity are pneumonia, bronchitis, diarrhea, influenza, and bronchitis. Various programs are initiated by the DOH to further build up the basic health foundation of the public. Below are its most recent agendas:

FOURrmula One for Health – an implementation framework for the period covering 2005-2010 designed as a single package, supported by an effective management infrastructure along with various financing arrangements.

Drug Test Operations & Management Information System (DTOMIS) – consists of the following components: Drug Test Center Licensing and Accreditation System (DTCLAS); Drug Test Center Results Verifications System (DTCRVS); Confirmatory Drug Test Laboratory; DOH Licensing and Accreditation and User Free Payment System (DOHLAUFPS); and Executive Information System (EIS).

Contract Distribution System (CDS) – a new distribution system for purchased essential drugs to ensure that accessible stocks are distributed effectively and efficiently.

Currently, the Philippines has in effect a dual health care system – modern (Western) and traditional medicine. Modern medicines are commonly prevalent to urbanized areas though some of it is still unaffordable to majority of the population. Consequently, people living in isolated areas and those who cant afford doctor-prescribed medicines resort to traditional and other alternative medicines.