Philippine Cardiovascular Disease Prevention and Control Program
I. Introduction
The cardiovascular diseases (CVD) program was implemented in 1992. This program envisions a nation of Filipinos with
healthy lifestyles and habits living and working in a clean and safe environment and with access adequate medical care for
cardiovascular diseases.
Diseases of the cardiovascular system affect Filipinos of any age, congenital and rheumatic heart diseases as well as
infectious carditis early during childhood. Arteriosclerosis and Hypertension generally set in during early adulthood. Middle aged and
early persons are at great risk of heart attack and stroke.
In the last twenty five years, the mortality rate from CVD has escalated very rapidly in the country, due primarily to marked
increases in deaths from hypertension, heart attack and stroke. Deaths from rheumatic fever rheumatic heart disease and congenital
malformations continue to remain high. These are reflections of rising incidence of this group of diseases, which in turn reflect the
expansion of risk factors among our people and the inadequacy of our health care system.
The Department of Health (DOH) and the Philippine Heart Center collaborated in formulating the National Cardiovascular
Disease Prevention and Control Program and its Operational Plans. DOH established CVD Prevention and Control Program and
assigned CVD Coordinator every Province to ensure the correct and efficient implementation of the program.
II. Status
Diseases of the heart and the vascular system have been rising for the past decades and remain to be the top leading causes
of mortality in 2008. In 1980, CVD mortality was 60.8 deaths per 100,000 population. This increased to 79.1 deaths per 100,000
population in 2000 and rose further to 101.9 deaths per 100,000 population in 2008 (PHS, 2008). Hypertension and diseases of the
heart are also the fourth and ninth leading causes of morbidity, respectively. They are the only NCDs in the ten leading causes of
morbidity.
III. Goals and Objectives
The main objectives of the program were the following:
1. To reduce the morbidity and mortality from CVD,
2. To reduce the economic burden of CVD to the individual, the family and the community, and
3. To improve the productivity and quality of life of CVD cases.
IV. Key Strategies and Activities
A. General Strategies
Promote the factors that prevent the occurrence and impede the progression of the disease, and
Remove/diminish the factors that cause or contribute to the occurrence or progression of disease
Legal Basis on the Prevention and Control of CVD
Memorandum Order. 416 - Providing for the nationwide implementation of the Cardiovascular Disease Prevention and
Control Program.
A. Department of Health
1. Provide direction in the nationwide implementation of the National Cardiovascular Disease Prevention and Control
Program (NCVDPCP);
2. Coordinate the activities of the program through the Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) Advisory Council, technical working
groups and task forces;
3. Develop and produce Information, Education, Communication (IEC) and other materials;
4. Solicit the participation and support of pertinent non-government organizations, professional associations and private
individuals and health practitioners;
5. Conduct orientation and training for and in collaboration with the participating departments and agencies on the
National Cardiovascular Disease Prevention and Control Program (NCVDPCP) particularly on the strategies of prevention
and control; and
6. Monitor the nationwide implementation of the program, evaluate its effectiveness, and submit periodic reports thereon
to the Office of the President.
B. The Department of Interior and Local Government
Ensure the active participation of all local government units (LGUs) in the implementation of the said program and provide
them the necessary administrative and funding support.
C. The Department of Education, Culture and Sports
1. Continue with the teaching of CVD prevention and control in schools in collaboration with the Philippine Heart Center
(PHC) and promote the program in private schools;
2. Support/undertake orientation and training of teachers on the effective integration of CVD concepts in school curricula,
and evaluate and monitor such integration;
3. Provide cardiovascular disease (CVD) services to students/pupils, teachers and non-teaching personnel;
4 Allocate funds through its regular budget for the cardiovascular disease (CVD) services and the succeeding printing of
the teaching materials;
5. Conduct training of schools health and nutrition personnel on the identification and management of rheumatic
fever/rheumatic heart disease/cardiovascular disease (RF-RHD-CVD) cases in schools.
D. The Department of Labor and Employment
1 Adopt and implement the industry-based strategy of the National Cardiovascular Disease Prevention and Control
Program (NCVDPCP);
2. Initiate programs promoting the orientation and training of company physicians, nurses, managers, and/or other
appropriate personnel, in collaboration with the CVD training corps, in CVD prevention and control; and
3. Monitor the implementation of the program in industrial companies.
E. The Civil Service Commission
1 Adopt and implement the Industry-Based strategy of the National Cardiovascular Disease Prevention and Control
Program (NCVDPCP) to include government owned and controlled corporations; and
2 Monitor the implementation of the program in the public sector.
F. The Department of National Defense
1 Undertake orientation/training of Department of National Defense (DND) health personnel in collaboration with the
cardiovascular disease (CVD) training corps; and
2 Monitor the implementation of the program in its area of responsibility.
G. The Philippine Information Agency
1. Advocate and disseminate information to the public on the promotion of cardiovascular health and healthful lifestyles
through government media, as well as obtain support of the private media sectors for the purpose; and
2. Assist/collaborate with the Department of Health (DOH) in the development of information, education, communication
(IEC) materials on cardiovascular disease (CVD).
Primary Prevention of Common CVD
Congenital Heart Disease
o Adequate treatment of viral infection during pregnancy
o Genetic counseling of blood related married couples
Rheumatic Heart Disease
o Identification of cases of rheumatic fever
o Prophylaxis with penicillin or erythrocin
Hypertension
o Continued low salt diet and adequate exercise
Coronary Heart Disease
o Cessation of smoking
o Control or treatment of diabetes and hypertension
o Weight reduction
o Change to proper diet
o Adjustment of activities
Cerebrovascular Accident
o All measures to control hypertension and progression of arteriosclerosis
References:
Reyala, Nisce, Martinez, et. Al., “Community Health Nursing Services in the Philippines” 9th Ed., 2000
Villaverde, Vergeire, and de los Santos, "Health Promotion and Non-communicable Diseases in the Philippines: Current
Status and Priority Policy Interventions and Actions", 2012
http://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1997/02/13/memorandum-order-no-416-s-1997/
https://laguna.gov.ph/pho/cardiovascular-disease-control-program
Oliveros, Dablo, Cuevas, et., Al., "Twenty Years of Noncommunicable Diseases (NCD) Prevention and Control in the
Philippines (1986-2006)", 2009
Cuevas, Reyala, Bonito et. Al., “Public Health Nursing in the Philippines” 10th ed., 2007
