Statement | 7 April 2024

The Department of Health (DOH) joins peoples all over the world in celebrating World Health Day.

World Health Day is celebrated every year as the anniversary of the founding of the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1948. The Philippines is a founding member of the WHO. Former Department of Health and Public Welfare (DOHPW, the former name of today’s DOH) Undersecretary Dr. Hilario D.G. Lara represented our country at the First International Health Conference in New York in 1946. Usec. Lara signed the WHO constitution, an international health agreement, on behalf of the Philippines. At present, the Director for Programme Management of the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific (WPRO) is Filipino – Dr. Susan Pineda Mercado. She is WHO’s second highest official in the Western Pacific, who also happens to be a former DOH Undersecretary.

This year’s World Health Day has “My Health, My Right” as its theme. According to the WHO, it was chosen to champion the right of everyone, everywhere to have access to quality health services, education, and information, as well as safe drinking water, clean air, good nutrition, quality housing, decent working and environmental conditions, and freedom from discrimination.

The 1987 Philippine Constitution enshrines the right to health as a matter of state policy, decreeing that the State shall adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to health development. The Universal Health Care (UHC) Act seeks to ensure that all Filipinos are guaranteed equitable access to quality and affordable health care goods and services, and protected against financial risk.

“To have all feel their right to health, we must focus on three important aspects: health promotion and disease prevention through primary care; urgent and acute care; and women’s health,” said Health Secretary Teodoro J. Herbosa.

“The first two are discussed well, so I wish to highlight the third, because Filipino women care for the family. If we take care of our women, it follows that children, spouses and even parents will also be well cared for. Let us give our people the best health that is their right,” Sec. Herbosa added.