EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
Second Regular Session 
)
ol tl>‘ SrnrtniP
SENATE
Senate Bill No. 1803
RECc
20 SEP -1 All
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR CHRISTOPHER LAWRENCE "BONG"T. GO
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE e-HEALTH SYSTEM AND SERVICES IN 
SUPPORT OF UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS 
THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Currently, our healthcare system suffers from inadequate bed capacities and 
health workforce, poor service delivery network and inequitable distribution of health 
facilities. The weaknesses have become more evident with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Moreover, as the pandemic continues to limit physical mobility and face-to-face 
transactions, the use of ICT has become more apparent, and e-Health became an 
alternative health delivery method. The need for an up-to-date and easy-to-access 
health care system is indispensable at this time. As defined by the World Health 
Organization, e-Health Is "the use of information and communications technologies 
(ICT) for health."
To institutionalize the system of providing e-Health services, this bill alms to 
regulate the practice of telemedicine and e-Health, set the standarcls of practice and 
implement a mechanism for Individuals and entities providing e-Health services. The 
bill will recognize e-Health as equal with other healthcare delivery methods, guarantee 
quality of service, and ensure patient safety and protection.
This bill seeks to establish an ICT-enabled and integrated Philippine healthcare 
system delivering quality health outcomes for all Filipinos.
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of the bill is earnestly sought.
SENATOR CHRISTOraER "BONG" T. GO


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
Second Regular Session 
)
SENATE
r
Senate Bill No.
1803
Cellule 
ot tiu'
20 SEP -1 All -50
RECE
P-
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR CHRISTOPHER LAWRENCE "BONG" T. GO
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AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE e-HEALTH SYSTEM AND SERVICES IN 
SUPPORT OF UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS 
THEREFOR
Be It enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
ARTICLE I
GENERAL PROVISIONS
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the 'se-Health System 
and Service Act of2020’.
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policies. - It is the policy of the State to protect and 
promote the right to health of all Filipinos and instill health consciousness among 
them. Towards this end, the State shall institutionalize a system of providing wide 
access to quality health information and services using information and 
communication technology (ICQ, referred to as the National e-Health System 
(NEHS),resulting In better health outcomes for every Filipino, and further recognizing 
whole-of society and whole-of government approaches.
The NEHS shall be comprehensive, integrated, interoperable, progressive, 
secure and sustainable based on best current and future practices, and shall facilitate 
inter-agency and inter-sectoral coordination at various levels of governance covering 
both the public and private sectors. It shall recognize e-Health as supplemental and 
complementary with other healthcare delivery methods to the extent allowable by 
existing laws, provide and support healthcare delivery, including diagnosis, 
consultation, treatment, transfer of care of patient, exchange of health data and 
education, especially in medically unserved and underserved geographically isolated 
and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs).
SEC. 3. Objectives. - This Act shall provide a holistic framework that 
establishes a NEHS, which shall:


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a) Set policies, standards, priorities, pians, programs and projects that 
promote and ensure streamiined and safeiy reguiated deiivery of e-Heaith 
services to reduce inequaiities, achieve universai heaith care and better 
heaith outcomes;
b) Ciarify roies of agencies, institutions and entities regarding their 
performance and accountabiiities in buiiding nationai and iocai e+leaith 
capacity and measuring resuits; and
c) Enabie the citizenry with suitabie access to their own heaith information 
needed for better management and controi of their own heaith.
SEC. 4. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act:
a) Compliant e+Iealth Services and Applications refer to solutions, 
products and innovations that are compliant with defined architecture of e- 
Health standards that enable services and systems, ailow for interoperability 
of health services and information across geographic, organizational, 
network and vendor boundaries, and ensure data protection in accordance 
with Republic Act (R.A.) No. 10173, otherwise known as the "Data Privacy 
Act" and other related laws and issuances.
b) e-Health Data Services refer to key architectural data registries of the 
health sector enterprise needed to enable and support large scale health 
information interoperability and exchange.
c) e-Health System refers to the interplay of enabling (governance and 
accountability; strategy and investment; human resources; standards and 
interoperability; monitoring and compliance; research and development) 
and foundational (infrastructure; and services and applications) elements 
essential for a successful national e-Health implementation;
d) Electronic Health or e-Health refers to the use of cost-effective and 
secure Information communications technology for health, also referred to 
as digital health;
e) Electronic Health Record (EHR) refers to a computerized health record 
used to capture, store, access and share information of a patient between 
and across health care providers and health-related entities;
f) Electronic Medical Record (EMR) refers to a computerized medical 
record used to capture, store and share Information of a patient between 
healthcare providers in an institution or organization;
g) Electronic Prescription (e-Prescription) refers to a system that allows 
healthcare providers to write and send prescriptions in an automated or 
electronic way to a pharmacy with capability to receive such;


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h) Health Passport refers to the portable personal health record of a patient 
linked to the electronic heaith or medical record whereby patients exercise 
controi.
i) Health Sector Enterprise Architecture refers to the blueprint on which 
e-Health services and appiications shail be developed, Implemented and 
scaled up.
j) Information and Communications Technology refers to all 
technologies for the communication of Information, which includes data, 
application or information systems, internet, network, connectivity, 
telecommunications, among others;
SEC. 5 Scope and Application. - This Act covers all existing healthcare 
providers and other entities developing and using e-Health systems, services and 
applications and tools, whether public or private. It shall cover all e-Health solutions, 
services and applications including relevant standard equipment in the field of health 
and ancillary services that use ICT and are complementary to existing minimum 
modalities or standards of health care and other means of access to information.
SEC. 6. Implementing Agency. - The Department of Health (DOH) shall be 
the lead implementing agency to carry out the provisions of this Act. The DOH shall 
strengthen and transform its existing Knowledge Management and Information 
Technology Service (KMITS) Into a full-fledged Bureau, to be named as the National 
e-Health Information and Services Bureau (NeHISB), which shall perform the overall 
management and administration of this Act. Corresponding plantilla positions shall be 
created for this purpose in coordination with the Department of Budget and 
Management.
The Bureau shall also serve as the secretariat of the e+lealth Policy and 
Coordination Council created under Section 8 hereof.
SEC. 7. Regional and Local Implementation Structures and Staffing 
Pattern. - To assist in the Implementation of this Act and subject to the approval of 
the Department of Budget and Management, the DOH, in consultation with Philippine 
Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), Department of Information and 
Communications Technology (DICT), and Department of Science and Technology 
(DOST) shall determine the regional and local implementation structures and create 
divisions or units as it may deem necessary, and shall appoint officers and employees 
with permanent appointments and supported with an adequate yearly budget in 
accordance with the civil service law, rules, and regulations.
Setting up of the regional and local implementation structures shall support the 
organization and Integration of local health systems Into province-wide and city-wide 
health system in accordance with R.A. No. 11223, otherwise known as the "Universal 
Health Care Act" and other related issuances.


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ARTICLE II
GOVERNANCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY
SEC. 8. Creation of the e-Health Policy and Coordination Council. - There 
shall be created an independent body to be known as the e-Health Policy and 
Coordination Council (eHPCC), hereinafter referred as the "Council" to provide and 
promote relevant policies and guidelines for the effective coordination and 
implementation of this Act. The Council shall be composed of the following key 
officials:
a) Secretary, Department of Health - Chairperson
b) Secretary, Department of Information and Communications Technology - 
Co-Chairperson
c) President and Chief Executive Officer, Philippine Health Insurance 
Corporation - Co-Chairperson
Members:
d) Secretary, Department of Science and Technology;
e) Secretary, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD);
f) 
Secretary, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG);
g) Secretary, Department of Budget and Management (DBM);
h) Chancellor, University of the Philippines - Manila (UPM);
i) 
Chairman, Professional Regulation Commission (PRC);
j) 
Chairperson, Commission on Higher Education (CHED);
k) Chairperson, National Privacy Commission (NPC);
l) 
National Statistician, Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA);
m) One (1) representative from the Philippine Hospital Association (PHA);
n) One (1) representative from the Private Hospital Assodation of the 
Philippines (PHAPI);
o) One (1) representative from the Provincial Health Officers Association of 
the Philippines (PHOAP);
p) One (1) representative from the Association of Municipal Health Officers of 
the Philippines (AMHOP);
q) Two (2) representatives from professional medical or health societies;
r) One (1) representative from patients' group; and
s) 
One (1) representative from the ICT industry associations.
The heads of government agencies may be represented by an official whose 
rank shall not be lower than an Assistant Secretary or its equivaient. Members 
representing the private sector shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines 
not later than thirty (30) days after the date of enactment of this Act and shall serve 
for a term of three (3) years, renewable upon recommendation of the Council for a 
maximum of two (2) consecutive terms.
The government agency-members of the Coundl shall have the authority to act 
upon and decide on all urgent matters pending the formation of the Council and the 
appointment of members from the private sector by the President of the Philippines.
SEC. 9. Powers and Duties of the Council. - The Council shall exercise the 
following powers and functions:


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a) 
Define and promote overall e-Health policies, standards and regulations at 
all levels of healthcare system, public and private;
b) 
Ensure integration and coordination of national and local e-Heaith 
strategies and initiatives; and
c) 
Submit yearly assessments and accomplishment reports to the Senate 
Committee on Health and Demography and the House of Representatives 
Committee on Health for performance monitoring and evaluation.
SEC. 10. Creation of the Sub-Structure or Mechanism. - The Council 
shall create multi-sectoral groups, composed of both the private and public sectors to 
ensure broader stakeholder participation and for the furtherance of its objectives.
Setting up of the sub-structures or mechanisms shall be In accordance with 
R.A. No. 11223, otherwise known as the "Universal Health Care Act" and other related 
issuances.
ARTICLE III
STANDARDS AND INTEROPERABILITY
SEC. 11. Health Sector Enterprise Architecture. -The NeHS shall be 
operated within a health sector enterprise architecture that aligns and ensures that 
health and health-related data are made available and accessible anytime and 
anywhere to various stakeholders, business processes for health are streamlined and 
integrated, and services and applications are usable, safe, efficient and effective, 
following the health care business model provided under R.A. No. 11223, otherwise 
known as the "Universal Health Care Act" and other related Issuances.
Rationalization for safety and cost effectiveness, scope and standards for design 
and use of technologies In the health sector shall also be defined in this architecture. 
All health care providers and health-related entities shall adopt a health enterprise 
architecture as defined and guided by the Council.
SEC. 12. Standards Compliance. - All health care providers and health- 
related entities shall comply with the data standards to allow interoperability and 
health information exchange, and ensure data protection in accordance with R.A. No. 
10173, otherwise known as the "Data Privacy Act" and other related laws and 
issuances.
These standards shall Include, inter alia, patient identifier, health care provider 
identifiers, terminology and messaging standards, and shall be in accordance with the 
Philippine e-Govemment Interoperability framework security and other relevant 
standards.
ARTICLE IV
SERVICES AND APPLICATIONS


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SEC. 13. Rationalization of e-Health Services and Applications. -
Design, development, and Implementation of e-Health services and applications shall 
focus on the automation and interoperability of the various mandatory business 
processes and data services In the health sector as laid out in the Health Sector 
Enterprise Architecture and which may be subjected to health technology assessment 
and shall comply with regulatory requirements.
SEC. 14. Scope of e-Health Services and Applications. - e-Health shall 
include the following areas:
a) 
Mandatory e-Health Data Services:
1) Master Person Index
2) Master Provider (Human Resources) Index
3) Master Facility Index
4) Terminology or Health Services Registry
5) National Immunization Registry
b) 
Compliant e-Health Services and Applications, including but not limited to:
1) Electronic Health Record/Electronic Medical Record
2) Health Passport
3) Health Information Exchange
4) Health Facility Operations and Management
5) Disease Registries
6) TeleHealth/TeleMedicine and mHealth
7) Human Resources in e-Health
8) Supply Chain Management/Enterprise Resource Planning
Article V 
TELEHEALTH
SEC. 15. Regulations of TeieHealth Services and e-Health Related 
Devices. - The Council, through the DOH, shall establish and maintain a regulatory 
system for telehealth services and e-Health-related devices.
SEC. 16. Standards of Practice and Certification of Individuals and 
Entities Providing TeieHealth Services. - To complement the regulations of 
teiehealth services and e-Health-related devices, the Professional Regulation 
Commission and DOH, in consultation with, PhilHealth, UPM-National TeleHealth 
Center, DICT, academia, medical and specialty societies, non-government 
organizations, the private and business sectors, shall set the standards of practice and 
implement a certification mechanism for health care providers and health-related 
entities providing teiehealth services.
ARTICLE VI 
HUMAN RESOURCES


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SEC. 17. Human Resource in e-Health. - The human resource for e-Health 
are health care professionals who shall plan, design, build, operate, use, maintain and 
support the e-Health services and applications.
The DOH, PRC, CHED, DICT, and Technical Education and Skills Development 
Authority (TESDA), in consultation with medical and specialty societies, IT professional 
associations, and academia, shall establish the minimum competencies and impose 
the same on health, health-related and digital health professionals. This shall be part 
of the curriculum of health and health-related courses.
SEC. 18. Human Resource for e-Health Development Plan. - The DOH, 
PRC, CHED, and TESDA shall formulate the Human Resource for e-Health 
Development Plan which shall develop new curricula, integrate changes in existing 
curricula, create formal and non-formal training programs, and continuing professional 
development programs concerning the practice of e-Health. There shall also be 
creation of personnel services Item, plantilla positions, and other employment 
opportunities for human resource in government hospitals and Institutions to manage 
and enable e-Health in healthcare and related services.
ARTICLE VII 
INFRASTRUCTURE
SEC. 19. ICT Infrastructure. - The DICT, in coordination with DOH, 
PhilHealth, and DOST, shall establish and maintain the necessary national ICT 
infrastructure to implement e-Health services and applications.
SEC. 20. National Health Data Center.- The PhilHealth, in coordination 
with the DOH, DICT and DOST, shall establish and maintain the national e+iealth data 
center, and implement an agile and sustainable data management and governance 
framework and systemin support to R.A. No. 11223, otherwise known as the 
"Universal Health Care Act," and in compliance with R.A. No. 10173, otherwise known 
as the "Data Privacy Act of 2012" for data protection.
ARTICLE VIII
STRATEGY AND INVESTMENT
SEC. 21. National e-Health Strategic Framework and Plan. - The
Council shall spearhead the development and monitoring of strategic framework and 
plan to serve and guide the operations of a national e-Health system.
SEC. 22. Financing the e-Health Strategic Framework and Plan. -
Financing for the national e-Health system by DOH, PhilHealth and other partners, as 
defined by the Council, shall be made available to scale up e-Health Implementation 
at the national level.
SEC. 23. Private Sector Participation. -The DOH shall promulgate rules 
regarding the participation of the private sector in the provision of e-Health services.


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ARTICLE XI
ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTIES
SEC. 27. Rules and Procedures for Administrative Violations and 
Complaints. - The Council shall promulgate rules and procedures relating to 
administrative violations and complaints, insofar as they relate to the establishment 
and operations of the national e-Health system.
ARTICLE XII
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
SEC. 28. Transitory Provisions. - TTie transformation of KMITS into a full- 
fledged Bureau and the formulation of the internal organic structure and regional and 
local implementation structures, staffing pattern, operating system, and the revised 
budget of the Department for health information technology shall be completed within 
six (6) months from the effectivity of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) 
of this Act, during which time, the existing KMITS and regional and local 
implementation personnel shall continue to serve in holdover capacities until a full and 
permanent Bureau is constituted and functioning, and new appointments are issued.
SEC. 29. Appropriations. - Hie amount needed for the initial implementation 
of this Act shall be taken from the current fiscal year's appropriation of the DOH for 
health information technology.
For the succeeding years, the amount needed for e-Health in the DOH budget 
and in the budget of other agencies with specific mandates provided in this Act shall 
be based on the strategic plan formulated by the Council, in coordination with other 
stakeholders. The amount shall be included In the National Expenditure Program (NEB) 
as basis for the General Appropriations Bill (GAB).
Further, other sources of funds can come from the Private Sector Participation 
Program, Joint DOH-PhllHeaith-DICT-DOST undertakings on e-Health, and Medium- 
Term Information and Communications Technology Harmonization Initiative (MITHI).
SEC. 30. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within one hundred 
ninety days (90) days from the effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of DOH, after 
consultation with the Secretaries of DICT and DOST, the President and Chief Executive 
Office of PhilHealth, the Chancellor of UPM, the Chairman of the Professional 
Regulation Commission, the Chairperson of CHED, the National Statistician of PSA, 
and representatives of medical and paramedical associations and societies, and other 
stakeholders, shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations implementing the 
provisions of this Act.
SEC.31. Separability Clause. - If any part or provision of this Act is held 
invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not affected shall remain 
in full force and effect.


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SEC.32. Repealing Clause. - All general and special laws, decrees, executive 
orders, proclamations and administrative regulation, or any parts thereof which are 
inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, amended and modified accordingly.
SEC. 33. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in any newspaper of general drculation.
Approved/
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