DOH better solve public health issues than change its name – Garin

FILE PHOTO: The Department of Health (DOH) must focus on resolving public health issues rather than busy itself thinking about a name change, says Iloilo 1st District Rep. Janette Garin. According to the former health secretary, renaming the DOH into the “Department of Health and Wellness” and calling the agency head as “Chief Longevity Officer” will not make any distinction. Photo from House of Representatives FB page

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) should focus on resolving public health issues rather than busy itself thinking about a name change, said Iloilo 1st District Rep. Janette Garin.

According to Garin, who served as Health secretary under the Aquino administration, renaming the DOH into the “Department of Health and Wellness” and calling the agency head as “Chief Longevity Officer” will not make any distinction.

Garin was reacting to incumbent Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa’s suggestion of a change in the name of the DOH in a bid to give the public a better understanding of the agency’s role and mission.

“Well, honestly, it will not make any difference, eh? There are other bigger problems that the DOH should focus on because wellness is actually part of health,” she explained in a press conference Thursday.

READ: Herbosa: Time to call agency ‘Dep’t of Health and Wellness’

“It’s okay if the impact will really be great in terms of public health. But that’s not the case eh, because wellness is part of health. So changing the name can be okay but it will not really make a difference. There are other things that should merit our attention,” she added.

Garin also said that changing the DOH’s name may even result in additional expenses for the agency as it would entail a change in the logo which may affect all department units, teams, offices, and hospitals nationwide.

“That’s okay but it does not go without that it will not entail costs. Because what will you do? You will change your logo, then the central office, up to the hospitals, and down to the units of government,” she pointed out.

Then what programs should the DOH prioritize instead? Its strategy on fighting dengue, according to Garin.

First off, she said, the DOH should give up its “4S” versus dengue: Search and destroy breeding sites, Self-protection measures, Seeking early consultation, and Supporting targeted fogging in outbreak areas.

“For example, they they keep on saying that dengue can be resolved by 4S, no – like killing the mosquitoes, cleaning your surroundings. But the World Health Organization has repeatedly said that it has been done for decades and it’s not enough,” Garin emphasized.

“Because mosquitoes can now reproduce faster than us going after them,” she added.

READ: DOH urges local officials to act as dengue cases rise

On Tuesday, July 3, Herbosa changing the name of the DOH would help emphasize to the public that the agency aims to combat diseases and ensure that Filipinos maintain good overall health at all times.

The DOH chief likewise said that to call the Health secretary as Chief Longevity Officer instead would stress the importance of expanding citizens’ lifespans, noting that countries nowadays focus on achieving longer life for its people.

DOH spokesperson Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo, however, said Herbosa’s  proposal is still being studied.