The Department of Health (DOH), in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO) Philippines, celebrates World Health Day with the theme “My Health, My Right,” emphasizing the importance of achieving Universal Health Care (UHC) and ensuring that everyone has access to high-quality healthcare in the country.
The DOH and the WHO share the vision that health is one of the cornerstones for the enhancement and improvement of overall well-being and human development. Throughout the years, the DOH and WHO have worked hand-in-hand, resulting in significant milestones in public health such as the elimination of polio, the decrease in malaria incidence, and the passage and issuance of various legal and policy instruments supporting public health, including the UHC Law, the Reproductive Health Law, Sin Tax reforms and Tobacco Control laws, and national policies on health promotion and disease prevention and control.
“Leaders of the national government, members of civil society, healthcare professionals, individuals, families, and religious and community leaders all play crucial roles in advancing the human right to health. Together, we can combat inequalities to ensure that everyone can enjoy the benefits of good health. No one should be left behind,” says WHO Representative to the Philippines, Dr Rui Paulo de Jesus.
This is in response to vulnerable populations, including the poor and less educated, who continue to have the highest rates of illness, the worst health outcomes, and difficulty obtaining and affording healthcare.
“World Health Day serves as a poignant reminder of our collective commitment to ensuring every individual’s right to health. As we navigate through the challenges ahead, the Department of Health reaffirms its dedication to advancing access to quality healthcare for all Filipinos, leaving no one behind dahil sa Bagong Pilipinas, ang Bawat Buhay ay Mahalaga, ” expressed DOH Secretary Teodoro J. Herbosa.