Mandate and Core Functions
- Responsible for formulation, planning, implementation, and coordination of health policies and programs
- Promote, protect, preserve, or restore public health through service delivery and regulation
Powers and Functions of the Ministry
- Define national health policy and plans
- Provide health programs, services, and facilities subject to funding and rules
- Collaborate with local and international agencies
- Administer health laws, including quarantine and food/drug safety
- Collect and disseminate health statistics
- Conduct health education and public information dissemination
- Undertake medical research and training aligned with priorities
- Regulate and license health establishments like hospitals, clinics, labs, and drugstores
- Issue orders and regulations for policy implementation
- Perform other duties as established by law or higher authority
Organizational Structure
- Ministry Proper and attached agencies: National Health Facilities, Regional, Provincial, District Health Offices, Local Health Agencies
Ministry Proper Composition
- Office of the Minister (with Assistant Ministers for Financial, Legal Affairs, and Staff Support Services)
- Office for Public Health Services (handling disease control, family planning, environmental health, nutrition, etc.)
- Office for Hospital and Facilities Services
- Office for Standards and Regulations including Bureaus on Research, Food and Drugs, Licensing, Quarantine
- Office for Ministry Management Services (administration, finance, manpower, logistics, biologicals production)
- Executive Committee for National Field Operations consisting of regional offices and national health facilities
Ministry Field Offices
- Regional Health Offices for each administrative region; Regional Health Office for NCR
- National Health Facilities classified as National Medical Centers and Special Research Centers
- Supervised by Executive Committee for National Field Operations
Duties and Appointment of the Minister of Health
- Vested with full authority and responsibility for Ministry’s mandate
- Appointed by the President
- Functions include advising the President, establishing policies, promulgating regulations, supervising Ministry functions, and delegating authority
Office of the Minister and Key Staff
- Includes Deputy Minister acting as Chief of Staff, Assistant Ministers for Legal Affairs and Financial Operations
- Staff Support Services: Community Health, Public Information, Health Intelligence, Planning, Foreign Assistance Coordination
- Roles cover legal counsel, financial oversight, public education, health data management, and project coordination
Deputy Ministers
- Five Deputy Ministers assist the Minister
- Supervisory and coordinating functions over assigned units
- Empowered to recommend rules, exercise delegated authority, and perform functions assigned by law or the Minister
Office for Public Health Services
- Includes services for Maternal and Child Health, Tuberculosis, Family Planning, Environmental Health, Nutrition, Dental Health, Malaria, Schistosomiasis, Communicable and Non-Communicable Disease Control
- Responsible for policy formulation, program development, training, research, and consultative services
Office for Hospital and Facilities Services
- Services for hospital operations, radiation health, hospital maintenance, and health infrastructure
- Focus on management improvement, safety, equipment maintenance, and infrastructure development
Office for Standards and Regulation
- Includes Bureau of Research and Laboratories, Bureau of Food and Drugs, Bureau of Licensing and Regulation, National Quarantine Office
- Formulates regulatory policies and standards for laboratories, food, drugs, medical licenses, and quarantines
- Oversees enforcement and conducts research
Office for Management Services
- Services include Financial, Management Advisory, Health Manpower Development, Procurement and Logistics, Biologicals Production, Administrative functions
- Support Ministry operations in budgeting, accounting, personnel, procurement, training, and biological product manufacturing
Office for National Field Operations
- Supervises Regional Health Offices, National Capital Region, and National Health Facilities
- Chaired by Minister
Regional, Provincial, and District Health Offices
- Regional Health Offices headed by Regional Director, responsible for field operations and local coordination
- Provincial Health Offices supervise district offices and health units, headed by Provincial Health Officer
- District Health Offices oversee hospitals and health units in districts, headed by District Health Officer
Local Health Agencies and City Health Officers
- Ministry monitors locally funded health agencies and may integrate them under Ministry supervision
- City Health Officers appointed by Minister and funded through national funds
Delegation of Powers
- Minister authorized to delegate substantive and administrative powers to regional and provincial heads to improve efficiency
Abolitions, Mergers, and Transfers
- Abolished positions: Assistant Secretaries and Assistant Directors of Services
- Various bureaus and services reorganized or absorbed into Offices for Public Health Services, Standards and Regulation, Hospital Services, Management Services
- Certain specialized centers attached directly to Ministry or converted to departments within medical centers
- Transfer and integration of medical facilities and commissions, including transfer of Medicare Hospitals to Ministry
Attached Entities
- Philippine Medical Care Commission and Dangerous Drugs Board attached to Ministry
- Minister serves as ex officio Chairman, Deputy Minister as Vice Chairman of these boards
Transitory Provisions
- Personnel affected by organizational changes continue duties in holdover capacity
- Entitled to retirement or separation benefits as per laws and Executive Orders
- Funds, assets, and liabilities realigned according to abolished, merged, or transferred functions
Miscellaneous Provisions
- Minister may prescribe changes in regional and local health administrative units
- Heads of services and bureaus to have CES Rank II under Career Executive Service except for Assistant Ministers
- Appointments not limited to current incumbents
- Authorization for corporate conversion of National Health Facilities subject to Minister and President approval
- Boards of converted facilities chaired by Minister and include Executive Committee members
New Structure and Staffing Pattern
- Ministry staff continues in holdover capacity pending new staffing pattern
- Minister to prescribe new position structure within 120 days, subject to approval
- Separation benefits prescribed for non-reappointed personnel
- Prohibition against judicial injunctions blocking personnel separation or replacement
Monitoring and Compliance
- Ministry required to implement periodic performance evaluation system
- Notice or consent requirements to protect third-party rights in reorganizational changes
Change of Nomenclature
- Upon adoption of presidential government constitution, Ministry to be renamed Department of Health
- Titles of officials to change accordingly (Minister to Secretary, etc.)
Prohibition Against Unauthorized Changes
- Any change to reorganization requires prior Presidential approval
Funding and Implementation
- Funds sourced from Ministry allocations
- Minister empowered to issue implementing rules and regulations
Separability and Repealing Clause
- Unconstitutional provisions severable without affecting remainder
- Inconsistent laws or rules repealed or modified
Effectivity
- Executive Order effective immediately upon approval