OPENING REMARKS DURING THE DOH 115th Anniversary (June 25, 2013, DOH Convention Hall)

From simple beginnings 115 years ago, with limited and specific functions, the Department has evolved through the years into what it is today – an agency whose mission is to guarantee an equitable, sustainable and high quality health care for all Filipinos, and especially to include the poor.

And so, it is but fitting that we gather today to celebrate this milestone with people who have been, and who will continue to be part of this journey, led no less by Your Excellency, Mr. President. On behalf of the entire Department of Health, our sincerest thank you.

Ensuring the good health and better quality of life of our people, especially our poor families, does not come easy.  Actually, this is not just true of the Philippines.  The 2008 World Health Report states that “health systems are developing in directions that contribute little to equity and social justice and fail to get the best outcomes for their money… that health systems need to respond better – and faster – to the challenges of a changing world.”

The changing landscape of international health, the shifts in disease patterns and nature of some problems and the emergence of new health challenges as we grapple with existing ones, have pointed to the need for reforms in the health system.

Mr. President, at this crucial crossroad in the history of the DOH, you have provided us the leadership and the means to pursue the vision of inclusive growth, with health as one of the key drivers.

It is no wonder then, that the Aquino Health Agenda of achieving universal health care for all Filipinos, or Kalusugan Pangkalahatan [KP], was launched in 2010 to address inequities in health outcomes. KP ensures that all Filipinos, especially those belonging to the lowest quintiles, have equitable access to quality health care.  The President’s commitment to translate economic gains to the best possible health care for each and every Filipino, regardless of geographic location or socioeconomic status, serves as our inspiration, and challenge to us, to work even harder for health care reforms.

The high premium this administration is paying for human development - on health and social services – is something that is unmatched in DOH history.  Not only is the support reflected in unprecedented increases in budget, Mr. President, that you have allocated for the health sector, but equally important, is the unwavering political support from both the executive and legislative, in laying the policy and legislative environment that helps us carry out our mandate.  The Alcohol and Tobacco Excise Tax Reform Act, the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act and recently your signing of the National Health Insurance Act of 2013 are testaments to the Administration’s resolve in instituting long needed health reforms.

Mr. President, among the first things you asked at the beginning of your administration was how can we address the glaring reality that a good number of our countrymen die without ever seeing a health professional.  After almost three years and thanks to your support, Kalusugan Pangkalahatan has made very significant progress.

Allow me to just highlight a few. Details of these will be provided in the Audio-Visual Presentation on DOH achievements.

We have made significant headway in our commitment to:  First, improve financial risk protection through the expansion of PhilHealth membership and benefits to the poorest 5.3 million families; Second, improve responsiveness of our health system and ensure availability and access to quality health services with the rehabilitation and upgrading of 4,518 health facilities, and hopefully 7,325 more until 2016, through straight Government subsidy and other schemes including public private partnerships, and; Third, achieve better health outcomes and meet our  health-related millennium development goals by strengthening existing public health programs through deployment of community health teams and health professionals to underserved areas, provision of safe and good quality public health supplies and medicines, and expanding immunization interventions with Rotavirus vaccination, pneumococcal vaccines, hepatitis vaccines and several more.

Mr. President, we know this is not enough.  Many more needs to be done to truly realize and sustain universal health care.  But I believe that the considerable progress made so far attests to what an administration dedicated to good governance and needed reform can achieve. We, the entire Department of Health,  commit that true universal health care is now in sight and it can be achieved by the end of your term.

The achievements would also not have been possible without the hard work and dedication of the staff of the Department of Health, then and now.  So on our 115th anniversary, I wish to acknowledge the contribution and hard work of the men and women of the Department of Health.

Mr. President, with your inspirational leadership and the continued support of our development partners who are also present here today, I have no doubt that universal health care will soon be a reality.