Legal Basis Under the Universal Health Care Act
- Section 2 of RA No. 11223 requires the State to adopt a whole-of-system, government, and society approach in health policy making.
- It mandates a people-oriented health services approach that respects cultural differences.
- Section 19 of RA No. 11223 directs DOH, DILG, and LGUs to integrate health systems across provinces and cities.
Alignment with National Development Vision
- The Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028, guided by AmBisyon Nation 2040, highlights good health promotion as key to socio-economic transformation.
Adoption of the National Objectives for Health (NOH) 2023-2028
- The NOH 2023-2028 serves as the medium-term strategic framework to strengthen the health sector.
- It outlines an 8-Point Action Agenda to guide health sector development.
Roles and Responsibilities of the Department of Health and Other Agencies
- DOH, as the lead agency, must formulate and disseminate plans and guidelines for NOH understanding.
- It shall establish a monitoring and evaluation framework for the 8-Point Action Agenda.
- DOH is tasked to conduct capacity-building programs for LGUs and other stakeholders.
- Coordination with private sector, civil society, and international bodies is mandated.
- Ensuring community and stakeholder participation in health strategies is required.
- Strategies under NOH must be integrated into LGU annual operational plans where applicable.
Obligations of National Government Agencies, GOCCs, and LGUs
- All relevant agencies and instrumentalities of the National Government, including GOCCs, are directed to support NOH implementation.
- LGUs are encouraged to undertake initiatives aligned with the NOH 2023-2028 objectives.
Communication and Implementation
- DOH, in coordination with the Presidential Communications Office, will disseminate the NOH 2023-2028 to all concerned government entities.
- The memorandum circular takes immediate effect as of June 4, 2024.