An official of the Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday, July 2, confirmed the proposal by Secretary Teodoro Herbosa to rename the agency but clarified that it is still under further study.
“The proposal to rename the Department is a sound idea floated by the Secretary, anchored on a broad understanding of the ultimate goal of public health,” DOH OIC Assistant Secretary and Spokesperson Albert Domingo told reporters in a Viber message.
On July 1, Herbosa told Teleradyo that he is considering changing the name of DOH to the “Department of Health and Wellness” to highlight awareness of health promotion, among others.
Domingo explained that the World Health Organization (WHO), in its charter, defined health as “a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”
“That is the essence of wellness,” Domingo said. “We continue to study the proposal further,” he added.