Garin calls renaming of DOH costly, futile

Janette Garin —INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

The proposal to rename the Department of Health (DOH) into the Department of Health and Wellness may be well-intentioned but ultimately a futile endeavor for the country’s public health outcomes, former Health Secretary and Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin said on Thursday.

“Honestly, it would not make any difference,” Garin told reporters.

“The DOH has far more problems that should be paid attention to. And in any case, wellness is already part of health.

“It also goes without saying that this would entail costs,” she said.

READ: DOH better solve public health issues than change its name

“You’ll have to replace the logo from the central office, down to the hospitals, until the very bottom rungs of our government—it would have been okay if the impact would be great in terms of public health, but it won’t.”

Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa proposed renaming the DOH as the Department of Health and Wellness to align the country with global goals to lengthen lifespans. —KRIXIA SUBINGSUBING

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