EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S. No. 1512
Introduced by SENATOR RAMON BONG REVILLA, JR.
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE E-HEALTH SYSTEM IN THE DELIVERY OF 
HEALTH SERVICES WITH THE USE OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS 
TECHNOLOGY IN THE PHILIPPINES, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
One of our health care system's obstacle today is access to a proper and quality 
health care service. According to the data provided by the Department of Health (DOH), 
approximately 70% of the population living in rural areas are struggling with no or 
minimal access to inpatient and outpatient care services. The reason behind this is 
because only 13% of healthcare providers and 40% of tertiary hospitals are located in 
non-urban areas. As a result, it takes an average of 39 minutes for Filipinos to arrive at 
a local health facility - according to Department of Health.
Additionally, our health care system lacks access to timely, reliable, accurate and 
complete health information that are essential in delivering adequate and exceptional 
health care services to Filipinos.
This bill aims to utilize information and communication technology or ICT for health 
or e-Health in order to deliver medical services and improve access to healthcare.


particularly in rural and underserved areas. This bill also encourages the use of e-Health 
which is as capable as other healthcare delivery methods. Through the use of ICT, e- 
Health enables diagnosis, consultation, treatment, education, care management, and 
self-management of patients at distance from health providers.
e-Health not only seeks to address current disparities in service care delivery, it 
also improves the flow of health information to help achieve the Universal Health Care 
standard and that is to have a more responsive health system.
In view of the foregoing, immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
RAMO^ONG REVILLA, JR.


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
SENATE
Introduced by SENATOR RAMON BONG REVILLA, JR.
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE E-HEALTH SYSTEM IN THE DELIVERY OF 
HEALTH SERVICES WITH THE USE OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS 
TECHNOLOGY IN THE PHILIPPINES, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled:
ARTICLE I
GENERAL PROVISIONS
1 
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Philippine E-Health Systems
2 
and Services Act of 2020."
3 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - The State shali protect and promote the right to
4 
health of the people and instill health consciousness among. Hence, it is the intent of the
5 
Legislature to institutionalize a system of providing wide access and quality heaithcare
6 
services through electronic means using Information and Communication Technologies
7 
(ICT) or eHealth resulting in improved health outcomes for every Filipino, and engaging
8 
the participation of the private sector in the impiementation of eHealth services.


1 
Sec. 3. Objectives. - The eHealth Act shall provide a policy framework and
2 
establish a National eHealth System that will direct and regulate the practice of eHealth
3 
in the Philippines.
4 
The Philippine eHealth Systems and Services shall be comprehensive, integrative,
5 
sustainable, measurable, synchronized, interoperable, and progressive based on best
6 
practices, and shall facilitate inter-agency and inter-sectoral coordination at various levels
7 
of governance covering both the public and private sectors. It shall recognize eHealth as
8 
equal with other healthcare delivery methods to the extent allowable by existing laws,
9 
provide and support healthcare delivery, including diagnosis, consultation, treatment,
10 
transfer of care of patient, exchange of health data and education, especially in medically
11 
unserved and underserved geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs):
12
13 
(a) utilize Information and technology (ICT) to deliver health services which has
14 
the potential to be profitable, improve quality, change the conditions of
15 
practice, and improve access to healthcare, particularly in rural and other
16 
medically underserved areas;
17 
(b) develop infrastructure for ICT for health to promote equitable, affordable, and
18 
universal access to health services;
19 
(c) set policies and standards, and establish regulations regarding the field of
20 
eHealth;
21 
(d) designate national and regional centers and networks of excellence for eHealth
22 
best practice, policy coordination, and technical support for healthcare delivery;
23 
(e) facilitate the exchange and access to secured personal health information,
24 
including health providers sharing and use health and medical information to
25 
improve care as well as public access to relevant Information for the promotion
26 
of their own personal health;
27 
(f) ensure harmonization or integration, alignment and interoperability among
28 
various eHealth initiatives, programs and projects across the country and in
29 
accordance with the national agenda and priorities, and international eHealth
30 
practices, directions and standards; and


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
(g) facilitate inter-agency and inter-sectoral coordination at various level 
governance covering both public and private sectors.
Sec. 4. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act;
(a) Electric health or eHealth refers to the use of cost-effective and 
secure information communications technology for health;
(b) Electronic Medical Records refer to the medical background and 
history of medical service provider's patient and such other information 
to be designed and developed by the Record Center. It shall be 
presented in a standard electronic format;
(c) eHealth Practitioner refers to any healthcare provider from public or 
private sector;
(d) eHealth Systems refers to an organized and structured application of 
eHealth, integrated in the regular workflow of healthcare facilities;
(e) Geographic Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDAs) refer to 
communities with marginalized population and socio-economically 
separated from the mainstream society and characterized by:
1. Physical factors such as those isolated due to distance, 
weather conditions and transportation difficulties (island, 
upland, lowland, landlocked, hard to reach and unserved or 
underserved communities); and
2. Socio-economic factors such as high poverty, incidence, 
presence of vulnerable sector, communities in or recovering 
from situation of crisis or armed conflict;
(0 Health Center refers to an organized and structured application of 
eHealth, integrated in the regular workflow of healthcare facilities;
(g) Information and Communication Technology (ICT) refers to the 
totality of electronic means to access, create, collect, store, process, 
receive, transmit, present, and disseminate information;


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
(h) Licensable Healthcare Professionals refer to healthcare 
professionals applying for license to practice telehealth services;
(i) Live Video refers to the two-way interaction between a person (patient, 
caregiver, or provider) and a provider using audiovisual 
telecommunications technology. This type of service is also referred to 
as real-time and may serve as a substitute for an in-person encounter 
when it is not available;
0) Medical Service Providers refers to all medical practitioners, 
hospitals, clinics, centers and other similar institutions that provide 
medical care service and assistance;
(k) Mobile Health refers to the health care and public health practice and 
education supported by mobile communication devices such as cell 
phones, tablet computers, and PDAs. Applications can range from 
targeted text messages that promote healthy behavior to wide-scale 
alerts about disease outbreaks;
(l) Originating Site refers to the site where the patient is located at the 
time of provision of healthcare services through telecommunication 
systems;
(m) 
Records Center refers to the Electronic Medical records Center 
created under this Act;
(n) Remote Patient Monitoring refersX.0 the personal health and medical 
data collection from an individual in one location via electronic 
communication technologies, which is transmitted to a provider 
(sometimes via data-processing service) in a different location for use 
in care and related support. This type of service allows a provider to 
continue to track healthcare data for a patient once released to home 
or a care facility, reducing readmission rates.
(o) Secure Socket Layer or SSL refers to the technology which 
negotiates and employs the essential function of mutual authentication, 
data encryption and data integrity for secure transactions. The SSL


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28 
29
security protocol; provides data encryption, server authentication, 
message integrity, the client authentication for a transmission control 
protocol (TCPO or IP connection;
(p) Store-and-fdrward refers to the transmission of recorded health 
history through a secure electronic communications system to a 
practitioner, usually a specialist, who uses the information to evaluate 
the case or render a service outside of a real-time or live interaction. 
This service provides access to data after it has been collected and 
involves communication tools such as secure e-mail;
(q) Telehealth refers to the delivery of health-related services and 
information via telecommunication technology which encompasses 
preventive, promotive, curative, and palliative aspects. It is also a 
collection of means or methods of enhancing health care, public health, 
and health education delivery and support in the field of dentistry, 
counselling, physical and occupational therapy, home health, chronic 
disease monitoring and management and other related health fields 
using telecommunications technologies that perform live video, store- 
and-forward, remote patient monitoring and mobile health;
(r) Telehealth Center refers to an office located within a hospital 
designated for the purpose of conducting telehealth services and is 
equipped with the necessary tools and manpower;
(s) Telemedicine refers to the use of telecommunication technology to 
provide healthcare services from a distance which focuses more on the 
preventive and curative or treatment aspect;
(t) 128-bit Encryption refer to the encrypted transaction that secures 
confidential data or contents of a message wherein the original 
information can be recovered through the use of a corresponding 
decryption process.


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
Sec. 5. Scope. - This Act covers all existing eHealth practitioners, institutions, 
entities, services and related applications in both public and private sectors. It shall not 
alter the scope of practice of any healthcare provider or authorize delivery of health care 
services in any manner not authorized by law. It shall cover all eHealth solutions and 
services including relevant standard equipment in the field of health and ancillary services 
that uses ICT and are compiementary to existing minimum modalities or standards of 
healthcare and other access to information.
ARTICLE II
eHEALTH SERVICES AND SOLUTIONS
Sec. 6. Sen/ices and Application. - The National eHealth System shall provide 
tangible means for enabling services and systems including access to, exchange and 
management information and content for the general public, patients, providers, 
insurance, and other which may be supplied by government or private businesses.
Sec. 7. Scope of eHealth Services and Solutions. -
(a) Health informatics refers to interdisciplinary study of the design, development, 
adoption, and application of IT-based innovations in healthcare services 
delivery, management, and planning;
(b) Telehealth refers to the delivery of health related services and information via 
telecommunication technology which encompasses preventive, promotive, 
curative, and palliative aspects;
(c) Telemedicine refers to the use of telecommunication technology to provide 
healthcare services from a distance, focuses more on the curative or treatment 
aspect;
(d) Electronic learning or e-leaming refers to learning utilizing electronic 
technologies to access educational curriculum outside of a tradition classroom;


1 
(e) Electronic Medical Record or Electronic Health Record refers to software
2 
systems which contains encoded form of documentation of patient's heaith
3 
information;
4 
(f) Electronic prescription or e-presaiption refers to an electronic generation of a
5 
physician's prescription, transmission and filling of medical prescription;
6 
(g) Virtual healthcare teams refer to medical and public health professionals who
7 
collaborate and share information on patients with digital equipment;
8 
(h) Mobile health or mHealth refers to medical and public health practice supported
9 
by mobile devices such as mobile phones, patient monitoring devices, personal
10 
digital assistants (PDAs), and other wireless devices;
11 
(i) Social media for eHealth refers to the opportunities for the healthcare industry
12 
to engage with patients and healthcare professionals through online
13 
communications channels dedicated to community-based input, interaction,
14 
content-sharing and collaboration;
15 
O’) Health Information Exchange refers to the solution which enables data sharing
16 
and exchange between healthcare providers and facilities and support access
17 
to the patient's record across providers in many geographic areas of the
18 
country;
19 
(k) Knowledge management system refers to any kind of IT system that stores
20 
and retrieves information, improves cooperation and collaboration, locates
21 
knowledge sources, manage repositories, and enhance knowledge
22 
management; and
23 
(I) Patient Self-Education about Healthcare refers to the patient's use of the
24 
internet through personal computers or mobile devices to research on medical
25 
and pharmacological information, treatment options, or search for healthcare
26 
facilities available in their area.
27 
Sec. 8. Telehealth and Telemedicine Services. - Telehealth is an approach of
28 
providing healthcare services and public health with the use of ICT to enable the
29 
diagnosis, consultation, treatment, education, care management, and self-management
30 
of patient at distance from health providers. However, it shall not be understood to modify


1 
the scope of medical practice or any healthcare provider or authorized delivery of
2 
healthcare service in a setting or manner not otherwise authorized by the law.
3 
Sec. 9. Electronic Medical or health Record (EMR or EHR). - All data in the EMR or
4 
EHR shall be considered protected health data and shall be governed by established rule
5 
for access, authentications, storage and auditing, and transmittal.
6 
Sec. 9.1. Disclosure. - Disclosure of and accessibility to protected data in
7 
the EMR or HER shall be limited and standardized following international and local
8 
rules and regulations. Patients may secure a copy of their EMR or EHR upon
9 
request and shall provide informed consent if their EMR or EHR is shared with third
10 
parties except when these are processed for the production of aggregate health
11 
statistics, for social health insurance claims based on established guidelines, for
12 
public health emergency concerns and national security.
13 
The data I the EMR or EHR shall be encrypted and any unauthorized access of the
14 
EMR or EHR shall be punishable under Republic Act No. 10173 or the Data Privacy Act.
15 
Sec. 9.2. Covered Entities. - Covered entities may disclose protected health
16 
information to law enforcement officials performing their official duties and
17 
responsibilities as required by existing national and local laws and with proper
18 
order from duly concerned bodies.
19 
Sec. 10. Electronic Medical records Facilities Creation, Maintenance and Uploading.
20 
- All provisions of existing laws to the contrary notwithstanding medical service providers
21 
shall create and maintain electronic medical records which shall be electronically uploaded
22 
on a regular basis. The medical service providers shall likewise maintain hard copies of
23 
the electronic records to be printed and stores as backup records.
24 
All concerned medical service providers may elect to keep their own existing format
25 
in addition to the new electronic record and its back-up for purposes of their own use in
26 
providing hard copies to patient: Provided however, that back-up copies of electronic
27 
records shall, at ail times, be included when providing hard copies to the requesting
28 
patients.


1 
The electronic medical records facilities aside from the keeping records, shall
2 
likewise provide for an electronic facility where patients and medical service providers
3 
can communicate on-line either in real time or off-line.
4 
The EMR may also be integrated with civil registries to facilitate recording of vital
5 
information.
6 
Sec. 11. Electronic Medial Records Center. - There shall be created an Electronic
7 
Medical Records Center to be placed under the Office of the Secretary of the Department
8 
of Health. The Center shall serve as a hub of all databanks of medical records and other
9 
pertinent information to the patient's medical history.
10 
The records center shall generate specialized software to be distributed and used
11 
as the standard platform for the maintenance, updating, and making availabie electronic
12 
Medical Records.
13 
The Center shall enforce strict compliance with uploading and updating of
14 
electronic medical records as provided for in this Act.
15 
Sec. 12. Security Features of Electronic Medical Records. - In order to ensure the
16 
privacy of all medical records, electronic communication and transactions shall use
17 
existing 128-bit encryption or higher form of Secure Socket Layer (SSL) technology which
18 
may be devised In the future.
19 
The security features of the electronic medical records shall likewise comply with
20 
the security provisions as provided in Republic Act No. 8792 or the Electronic Commerce
21 
Law of 2000.
22 
Sec. 13. Creation of EMR orEHR. - EMR or EHR can be created by the following
23 
professionals if it is necessary for the medicai care of the patients:
24 
1. Doctors;
25 
2. Dentists;
26 
3. Pharmacists, pharmacy assistants, pharmacy engineers;
27 
4. Psychotherapist;
28 
5. Nurses; and
29 
6. Other allied health professionals
30


1 
Hospital assistants in preparation for their assisting occupation, insofar as this is
2 
permissibly required for their occupational tasks and their access are being carried
3 
under the supervision of the aforementioned persons. EMR software should be
4 
standardized and should have certification by the DOH.
5 
Sec. 14. Standards of Care. - The standards of care to be provided shall be based
6 
on established clinical or service guidelines and services given must be the same
7 
regardless of whether a healthcare provider provides healthcare services given must be
8 
the same regardless of whether a healthcare provider provides healthcare services in
9 
person or electronically. The attending physician shall be primary accountable for the
10 
healthcare delivery of eHealth systems and services.
11 
eHealth shall not replace health care providers providing services in person or
12 
relegate them to less important role in the delivery of healthcare. The fundamental
13 
healthcare provider-patient relationship is not only to be preserved but also augmented
14 
and enhanced.
15
16 
ARTICLE III
17 
eHEALTH SYSTEM COMPONENTS
18
19 
Sec. 15. Vie eHealth Components. - The following components are the building
20 
blocks that shall be put in place to realize the national eHealth vision and allow the
21 
eHealth outcomes to be achieved:
22 
(a) Leadership and Governance - Directs and coordinates eHealth activities at all
23 
levels like hospitals and health care providers. Critical areas of governance are
24 
management of the eHealth agenda, stakeholders' engagement, strategic
25 
architecture, clinical safety, management and operation, monitoring and
26 
evaluation, and policy oversight.
27 
(b) eHealth Services or Solutions - Required service and applications to enable
28 
widespread access to health care services, health information, health reports,
29 
health care activities, and securely share and exchange patient's information in
30 
support to health system goals. These address the needs of the various
10


1 
stakeholders like individuals, health care providers, managers, officials, and
2 
others.
3 
(c) Standards and Interoperability - Defines standards of eHealth systems and
4 
services, and promotes and enables exchange of health information across
5 
geographical and health sector boundaries through use of common standards
6 
on data structure, terminologies, and messaging. The implementation of
7 
software certification or accreditation where eHealth data standards for
8 
interoperability.
9 
(d) Policy and Compliance - Formulation of the required policies, guidelines and
10 
compliance mechanisms to support the attainment of the quality and
11 
acceptable eHealth systems and services.
12 
(e) Infrastructure - Establishes and supports the ICT and medical base to enable
13 
provision of eHealth services and health information exchange to enable
14 
sharing of health information across geographical and health sector
15 
boundaries, and implementation of innovative ways to deliver health services
16 
and information.
17 
(f) Human Resources - Workforce or professionals that develop, operate and
18 
sustain the eHealth Systems and Services. These components support the
19 
development of a strategy and plans to serve as guide in the implementation
20 
of the eHealth agenda. Investment refers to the funding or amount needed for
21 
executing the plans and strategies.
22
23 
ARTICLE IV
24 
LEADERSHIP AND GOVERNANCE
25
26 
Sec. 16. Lead Agency. -The Department of Health (DOH) shall be the lead agency
27 
in implementing this Act. For the purpose of achieving the objectives of the Act, the DOH
28 
shall:
29 
a) Establish an inter-agency and multi-sectoral National eHealth Steering
30 
Committee;
11


1 
b) Spearhead the establishment of a National eHealth System and Service:
2 
c) Coordinate with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), the
3 
Department of Information and Communication Technology Office (DICT) and
4 
the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHARD),
5 
Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), University of the
6 
Philippines - National Telehealth Center (UPM-NTHC), Medical and Paramedical
7 
Specialty Societies, Boards and Associations, Professional regulation
8 
Commission (PRC) and various health services providers and facilities including
9 
the academe and patient groups, and other stakeholders;
10 
d) Create or identify an Office to coordinate the development and implementation
11 
of a National eHealth system and Services among agencies concerned and
12 
provide direction and guidance to all DOH offices and attached agencies
13 
including the local government units and the private sector; and
14 
e) The Telehealth Centers shall be under the supervision of the Department of
15 
Health.
16 
Sec. 17. National eHealth Steering Committee. -To ensure the implementation of
17 
this Act and to serve as an executive body of the Philippine eHealth System and Services
18 
(PNeHSS), the National eHealth Steering Committee shall be created and made an
19 
integral part of the DOH. It shall also provide policy oversight and ensure that its
20 
implementation is consistent and pertinent laws such as Republic Act No. 8792 or the
21 
Philippine E-Commerce Law, Republic Act No. 10173 or the Data Privacy Act of 2012, and
22 
other commitments to the international health community. TTie National eHealth Steering
23 
Committee can also provide strategic directions to the health sector towards the
24 
integration of the Philippine services in view of the ASEAN integration.
25 
The Secretary of Health shall act as Chairperson.
26 
The Following shall serve as members:
27 
a) Secretary, Department of Science and Technology;
28 
b) Secretary, Department of Information and Communication Technology;
29 
c) Secretary, Department of Social Welfare and Development;
30 
d) Secretary. Department of Interior and Local Government;
12


1 
e) President and Chief Executive Officer, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation;
2 
f) Commissioner, Professional Regulatory Commission;
3 
g) Commissioner, Commission on Higher Education;
4 
h) Commissioner, National Privacy Commission;
5 
i) Commissioner, National Anti-Poverty Commission;
6 
j) President, Philippine Hospital Association;
7 
k) President, Philippine Medical Association;
8 
I) A representative from the Association of Municipal Health Officers/PHO/CHO;
9 
and members of the Committee shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines
10 
and shall serve for three (3) years of a maximum of two (2) consecutive terms, unless
11 
recalled, replaced, or resigned from office. The Committee shall exercise the following
12 
functions:
13 
a) Establish eHeaith policies, standards, regulations, and ethical frameworks
14 
pertinent to use, practice and provision of eHeaith services;
15 
b) Direct and coordinate the eHeaith system and services at the national level and
16 
ensure alignment of the system and services with the overall health goals of the
17 
government;
18 
c) Spearhead the activities that promote eHeaith awareness and engages the
19 
participation of stakeholders;
20 
d) Formulate responsive plans and strategies for the development of the national
21 
eHeaith environment in coordination with major stakeholders and affected sectors;
22 
e) Set and develop policies and programs for the advancement of eHeaith, and
23 
impose necessary regulatory mechanisms including penalties upon hearing and
24 
deciding cases;
25 
f) Create a technical working group, committees, and expert group to assist in the
26 
development of eHeaith projects;
27 
g) Create or identify the Telehealth Licensing and Regulatory mechanisms and
28 
body to implement the provisions of this Ac
29 
h) Submit yearly assessments to the Senate Committee on Health and
30 
Demography and the House of Representatives Committee on Health; and
13


1 
i) Convene at least twice a year.
2 
ARTICLE V
3 
STANDARDS AND INTEROPERABILITY
4
5 
Sec. 18. Standards. - Standards shall be introduces and imposed to facilitate
6 
interoperability among systems and devices, provide unqualified privacy and security and
7 
to address the unique needs. This must be complied with by various providers, centers,
8 
and system developers to enable consistency and services. The appropriate Committee
9 
as may be mandated in this Act shall define and regularly update, and impose standards
10 
for inoperability among various eHealth systems and services and ensure wide
11 
dissemination for easy access of all concerned.
12 
eHealth systems and services can potentially transform healthcare through mobile
13 
health delivery, personalized medicine, and social media eHealth applications. Reaching
14 
the potential for advancements in eHealth shall only be achieved through information and
15 
communication technology standards efforts that facilitate interoperability among
16 
systems and devices, of the developing world, and leverage existing ubiquitous
17 
technologies such as social media applications and mobile devices.
18 
Sec. 19. Interoperability framework. - The eHealth interoperability shall be defined
19 
and must be in consonance to DOH national eGovernment interoperability framework and
20 
established internal standards.
21 
Sec. 20. Secure Health Information Exchange (HIE). -The DOH, DOST, DICT, and
22 
PhilHealth shall establish a secured health information exchange using a common trust
23 
framework and a common set of rules which serves as the foundation of electronic
24 
information exchange across geographical and health-sector boundaries. The HIE
25 
includes the physical infrastructure, standards, core services, and applications that will
26 
strengthen the national eHealth environment.
27 
Sec. 21. Establishment and Accreditation of eHealth Centers and eHealth
28 
Practitioners. - The Act shall ensure that Telehealth Centers are strategically organized
29 
across the country within three (3) years upon effectivity of this Act to ensure the
30 
Telehealth practitioners are sufficiently equipped with skills for the ethical and safe
14


1 
practice of Telehealth such as the necessary audiovisual communications technology that
2 
will enable each Telehealth center to communicate with each other in real time, regionai
3 
Telehealth Centers shall be established. No Telehealth Center shall be allowed to operate
4 
unless it has been duly accredited based on standards set forth by the DOH. The
5 
Department of Health shall be the lead agency for the accreditation for the facilities as
6 
Telehealth Centers, whereas the Professional Regulations Commission shail be the lead
7 
agency for the accreditation of the Teiehealth Practitioners in coordination with the
8 
National eHealth Steering Committee. Telehealth Practitioner shall be accredited by the
9 
PhilHealth for reimbursement purposes. A Telehealth Center shall have the following
10 
minimum requirements:
11 
a) Equipped with the needed ICT applications suitable for telehealth in the
12 
country such as computers, internet connections, and communication lines;
13 
b) Supervised and staffed by trained personnel such as doctors, nurses,
14 
primary health care workers, and clinical specialists;
15 
c) Construction of facilities for the delivery of telemedicine services sites;
16 
d) Provision of transportation and other courier services for the delivery of
17 
medicines and other services; and
18 
e) Undergo periodic unannounced inspection by the DOH in order to evaluate
19 
and ensure quality telehealth center performance.
20 
TTiese Telehealth Centers shall be established for the purpose being primarily to
21 
give access to virtual medical care to as many people as possible. Their objectives shall
22 
be:
23 
a) To provide people in rural and far-flung areas with no adequate access to
24 
specialized medical care with a virtual access at no cost to them where
25 
warranted; and
26 
b) To give these people easy access too fast and efficient treatment and
27 
diagnosis, especially the poor and indigent among them.
28 
Sec. 22. Public-Private Partnership of eHeaith Services. - The DOH is hereby
29 
mandated to promulgate rules regarding the participation of the private sector in the
15


1 
provision of eHealth services and solutions, including pubiic-private partnerships and
2 
other suitable arrangements, subject to the limitations provided by this act.
3 
ARTICLE VI
4 
THE eHEALTH CENTER BOARD
5
6 
Sec. 23. eHealth Center Board. -There is hereby created a governing board of the
7 
Telehealth Center which shall hereafter be known as the eHealth Center Board.
8 
The eHealth Center Board shall be composed of ten (10) members with the
9 
Secretary of the Department of Heaith as the ex-officio Chairman, four (4) members,
10 
each from the Lung Center of the Philippines, National Kidney and Transplant Institute,
11 
Philippine Children's Medical Center, and the Philippine Heart Center and five (5) members
12 
from the Private sector.
13 
The members of the eHealth Center Board shall be appointed by the president of
14 
the Philippines and shall receive no salary. They shall, however, receive a per diem of not
15 
exceeding two thousand pesos (P 2,000.00) for every meeting of the Board actually
16 
attended: Provided, however, that the total amount of per diem for all meetings of the
17 
eHealth Center Board in a single month shall not exceed ten thousand pesos (P
18 
10,000.00).
19 
Members of the eHealth Center Board who are not officers of the Government shall
20 
serve for a term of four years which is renewable for another term.
21 
The Board Secretary shall be appointed by the Chairman from the ranking
22 
members of the hospital staff.
23 
Sec. 24. Powers and Duties of the eHealth Center Board. - The eHealth Center
24 
Board, as the governing and policy-making body of the eHealth centers, shall have such
25 
powers as are necessary to carry out the purpose and objectives stated in this Act,
26 
including the exercise of corporate powers. It shall perform the following functions and
27 
duties:
28 
a) To promulgate and prescribe the rules and regulations for the
29 
administration of the affairs of eHealth Centers.
16


1 
b) To study, purpose and approve plans for the improvement of eHealth
2 
Center Services.
3 
c) To propose, study and approve or, amend or revise the organizational
4 
structure of eHealth Centers, in order to meet the exigencies of the service,
5 
subject to existing laws and regulations on the matter and consonant with
6 
the principles of sound hospital administration.
7 
d) To consider and approve appointments and promotions of all staff
8 
personnel, medical and administrative, and other employees upon the
9 
recommendation of the eHealth center Director.
10 
e) To investigate all cases of anomalies, negligence or misconduct of all
11 
eHealth Center personnel Including the Director. It shall have the final
12 
authority to pass upon the removal, separation, and suspension of such
13 
personnel subject to Civil Services Rules and regulations.
14 
f) To make an integral audit once a year of the business operation of the
15 
eHealth Center.
16 
g) To receive in trust, legacies, gifts, land grants and donations of real and
17 
personal property of all kinds, free of tax, and to administer the same for
18 
the benefit of the hospital or a department of service thereof. Foreign and
19 
domestic donors legacies, gifts, grants and donations under this Section
20 
shall be exempt from any tax of any kind and nature to the extent of the
21 
full amount donated, provisions of existing laws to the contrary
22 
notwithstanding.
23 
h) To consider and approve the budget prepared by the hospital administration
24 
for submission to the Congress of the Philippines through the Budget
25 
Secretary.
26 
Sec. 25. Meeting of the Board and Quorum. - The eHealth Center Board shall meet
27 
regularly once a month at the Department of Health on a regular date fixed for the
28 
purpose. Special meetings may be called as often as necessary. A majority of the
29 
members shall constitute a quorum. All decisions of the Board must be by a majority of
30 
the members present.
17


1
2 
Sec. 26. eHealth Center Director and Auditor. - There shall be a eHealth Center
3 
Director, elected by a majority vote of the eHealth Center Board: Provided, that the
4 
recommendee is qualified under the Civil Service Act.
5 
The eHealth Center director shall serve until otherwise incapacitated or removed
6 
for cause and shall receive an annual salary equivalent to that of Chief of Hospital IV
7 
under the Salary Plan of the Wage and Position Classification Office. One shall have
8 
charge of the hospital and shall have the powers in respect to the hospital as vested by
9 
the law in chiefs of hospitals.
10 
Specifically, the eHealth Center Director shall:
11 
a) Be responsible for the implementation of all policies, decisions and orders
12 
of the eHeaith Center Board;
13 
b) Have immediate supervision and control over the affairs of the eHealth
14 
center Board;
15 
c) Prepare and submit to the eHealth Center Board periodic reports on the
16 
state of affairs, financial conditions, budgetary requirements and other
17 
problems of the hospital together with the corresponding recommendations
18 
thereon; and
19 
d) Perform such other duties as the eHealth Center Board may form time to
20 
time direct him to do, consonant with the dignity and responsibility of the
21 
office.
22 
The eHealth Center Board shall appoint an auditor who shall be the representative
23 
of the Auditor General who is hereby designated as ex-officio auditor of all eHealth
24 
Centers.
25 
The eHealth Center Auditor shall be the chief of its auditing and accounting
26 
department.
27 
One shall audit, examine and settle all accounts of the eHealth Centers, according
28 
to existing laws and regulations and shall perform such other duties as the Auditor
29 
General, the eHealth Center Director or the eHealth Center Board may require of one.
30 
One's compensation shall be fixed by the eHealth Center Board.
18


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
Sec. 27. Heads of Departments and Services and Compensations. - The 
participating Heads of departments and services as well as medical consultants and 
specialists shail be appointed by the eHealth Center Board upon recommendation of the 
eHealth center Director. Their compensation shall be presaibed by the eHealth Center 
Board but the same shall in no case be iess than provided for under existing laws and 
regulations.
All other personnel and employees of the eHealth Centers shall be appointed by 
the eHealth Center Director subject to the approval of the eHealth center Board.
ARTICLE VII 
IFRASTRUCTURE
Sec. 28. ICTInfrastructure. -The required ICT infrastructure to implement eHealth 
system and services shall conform to the national ICT infrastructure plan and standards.
Sec. 29. Medicai devices and eHeaith soiutions. - Software platform that connects 
existing or new medical devices and gateways shall be defined and regulated to ensure 
seamless data transfers based on established industry and national standards and 
standardization of EMR or EHR.
Sec. 30. eHeaith Centers Database. -All eHealth Centers and originating sites shall 
coordinate with DOH for consolidation of pertinent database. DOH shall maintain and 
manage a national database for consultants on clinical cases as well as health and medical 
education exchanges.
Sec. 31. National Heaith Database and Data warehouse. - The DOH shall 
spearhead the maintenance and management of a secured and protected national health 
database and national health data warehouse or defined shared EMR or EHR and of 
consultations on clinical cases as well as health and medical education exchanges and 
other eHealth applications.
ARITCLE VIII
19


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28 
29
HUMAN RESOURCES
Sec. 32. Human resources ICT Competencies. - Minimum ICT or eHeaith 
competencies shaii be estabiished and imposed to medical and paramedical professionals 
practicing eHeaith, and be part of the medical and allied medical curricula.
Sec. 33. Capability Building Plans and Policies. - Human resource plans and policies 
shall fully take into account in delivering eHeaith and Telemedicine. The following are to 
be considered:
a) Licensable healthcare professionals must have a valid Philippine license 
based on the requirement of the Professional regulations Commission 
(PRC);
b) Appropriate policies concerning cases wherein a licensed eHeaith 
practitioner in the Philippines who intends to provide eHeaith services to a 
patient in another country should be in place;
c) In any event, a eHeaith center should have policies and procedures to 
ensure that all relevant staff have the appropriate competencies to practice 
safer Health services; and
d) eHeaith centers should regular review of human resource plans and policies 
related to eHeaith and eMedicine.
ARTICLE IX
STRATEGY AND INVESTMENT
Sec. 34. eHeaith Strategic Framework. - The DOH shall spearhead the 
development and monitoring of strategic framework and plans to serve to guide the 
implementation of eHeaith systems and services.
Sec. 35. Monitoring Evaluation System. - There shall be established a robust metric 
for the monitoring and evaluation for eHeaith to access and analyze the impact of eHeaith 
systems and service.
20


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
Sec. 36. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of this 
Act shail be included in the General Appropriation of the year foliowing its enactment into 
law.
Sec. 37. Telehealth Center Trust Funds. - All funds and money not coming from 
the general fund of the National Government such as contributions from taxes and 
assessments from authorized sweepstakes lotteries and games, donations, legacies, 
endowment shall be used and disbursed only upon the authorization of the Telehealth 
Center Board for the purpose of improving the Telehealth Centers, its facilities and 
services, including the purpose of improving the Telehealth Centers, its facilities and 
services, including the purchase of supplies and equipment.
Sec. 38. Financing eHeaith Services. - Financing for applicable eHealth services by 
PhilHealth and other partners, as defined by the National eHealth Steering Committee 
shall be made available.
Sec. 39. Private Sector Participation. - The government shall encourage private 
sector investment on eHealth systems and services subject to existing laws and regulation 
through the appropriate government agencies and must be compliant to the established 
national eHealth systems and services and standards.
Under the Private Sector Participation Program, the joint DOH-Philhealth-DOST- 
National Privacy Commission-Philippine Statistics Authority undertakings on eHealth shail 
be expanded to align with the Medium-term Information and Communications technology 
Harmonizing Initiative (MITHI) efforts of Department of Budget ad management (DBM) 
and DOST which shall include the development of a Citizen registry. The participation 
from the private sector such as IT providers is important for the rapid sailing up of the 
eHealth services and in comprehending the delivery of eHealth services in the national 
and local levels.
Sec. 40. Tax Incentive. - Any private corporation that will engage in providing 
eHealth services shall not be required to pay any national or local tax within the first two 
(2) years of operation.
21


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
ARTICLE X
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
Sec. 41. Research and Development - Consistent with Republic act No. 10532 or 
the Philippine National Health Research System Act of 2013, the Development of Science 
and technology - Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST- 
PCHRD) in coordination with DOH, DICT, PhilHealth, specialty societies, and non­
government institutions shall ensure for the development of new eHealth solutions, 
services, and innovations through:
(a) 
Formulation of expanded eHealth research priority areas under the 
National; Unified Health research Agenda (NUHRA); and
(b) 
Establishment of knowledge hub and research centers for Health that focus 
on but not limited to capacity building, health technology assessment, 
knowledge management, standards development, and research utilization.
Sec. 42. Funding Source for Research Development - The research budget shall 
not be more than 5% of the funding sources of each of the following government 
agencies:
(a) Department of Health;
(b) Department of Science and Technology; and
(c) Department of Information and Communication Technology.
ARTICLE XI
LIABILITIES AND PENALTIES
Sec. 43. Unauthorized Processing of Persona! Information and Sensitive Persona! 
Information. - (a) The unauthorized processing of personal information shall be penalized 
by imprisonment ranging from one (1) year to three (3) years and a fine of not less than 
Five Hundred Thousand Pesos (PHP 500,000.00) but not more than Two Million Pesos 
(PHP 2,000,000.00) to be imposed on persons who process personal information without 
the consent of the data subject, or without being authorized under this Act or any existing
22


1 
law, and (b)*nie unauthorized processing of personal sensitive information shall be
2 
penalized by imprisonment ranging from three (3) years to six (6) years and a fine of not
3 
less than Five Hundred Thousand Pesos (PHP 500,000.00) but not more than Four Million
4 
Pesos (4,000,000.00) to be imposed on persons who process sensitive information
5 
without the consent of the data subject, or without being authorized under this Act or
6 
any existing law.
7 
Sec. 44. Accessing Persona! Information and Sensitive Persona! Information Due
8 
to Negiigence. - (a) Accessing personal information due to negligence shall be penalized
9 
by imprisonment ranging from one (1) year to three (3) years and fine of not less than
10 
Five Hundred Thousand Pesos (PHP 500,000.00) but not more than Two Million Pesos
11 
(PHP 2,000,000.00) to be Imposed on persons who, due to negligence, provided access
12 
to personal information without being authorized under this Act or any existing law.
13 
Sec. 45. Improper Dispose! of Persona! Information and Sensitive Persona!
14 
Information. - (a) The improper disposal of personal information shall be penalized by
15 
imprisonment ranging from six (6) months to two (2) years and a fine of not less than
16 
One Hundred Thousand Pesos (PHP 100,00.00) but not more than Five Hundred
17 
Thousand Pesos (PHP 500,000.00) to be imposed on persons who knowingly or
18 
negligently dispose, discard or abandon the personal Information of an individual in Its
19 
container for trash collection, and (b)The improper disposal of sensitive personal
20 
information shall be penalized by imprisonment ranging from one (1) year to three (3)
21 
years and fine of not less than One Hundred Thousand Pesos but not more than One
22 
Million Pesos (PHP 1,000,000.00) to be Imposed on persons who knowingly or negligently
23 
dispose, discard or abandon the personal information of an individual in its container for
24 
trash collection.
25 
Sec. 46. Processing of Persona! Information and Sensitive Persona! Information for
26 
Unauthorized Purposes. - The processing of personal information for unauthorized
27 
purposes shall be penalized by imprisonment ranging from one (1) year and six (6)
28 
months to five (5) years and fine of not less than Five Hundred Thousand Pesos (PHP
29 
500,000.00) but not more than One Million Pesos (PHP 1,000,000.00) to be imposed on
23


1 
persons processing personal information for purposes not authorized by the data subject,
2 
or otherwise authorized under this Act or under existing laws.
3 
The processing of sensitive personal information for unauthorized purposes shall
4 
be penalized by imprisonment ranging from two (2) years to seven (7) years and a fine
5 
of not less than Five Hundred Thousand Pesos (PHP 500,000.00) but not more than Two
6 
Million Pesos (PHP 2,000,000.00) to be imposed on processing sensitive personal
7 
information for purposes not authorized by the data subject or otherwise authorized
8 
under this Act or under existing laws.
9 
Sec. 47. Unauthorized Access or Intentional Breach. - The penalty of imprisonment
10 
ranging from one (1) year to three (3) years and a fine of not less than Five Hundred
11 
Thousand Pesos (PHP 500,000.00) but not more than Two Million Pesos (2,000,000.00)
12 
shall be imposed on persons who knowingly and unlawfully, or violating data
13 
confidentiality and security data systems, breaks in any way into any system where
14 
personal and sensitive personal information is stored,
15 
Sec. 48. Concealment of Security Breaches involving Sensitive Persona!
16 
Information. - The penalty of imprisonment of one (1) year and six (6) months to five
17 
(5) years and a fine of not less than Five Hundred Thousand Pesos (PHP 500,000.00) but
18 
not more than One Million Pesos (PHP 1,000,000.00) shall be Imposed on persons who,
19 
after having knowledge of a security breach an of the obligation to notify the Commission
20 
pursuant to Section 20(f), intentionally or by commission conceals the fact of such
21 
security breach.
22 
Sec. 49. Malicious Disclosure. - Any personal information controller or personal
23 
information processor or any of its officials, employees or agents, who, with malice or in
24 
bad faith, discloses unwarranted or false information relative to any personal information
25 
or personal sensitive information obtained by him or her, shall be subject to Imprisonment
26 
ranging from one (1) year and six (6) months to five (5) years and a fine of not less than
27 
Five Hundred Thousand Pesos (PHP 500,000.00) but not more than One Million Pesos
28 
(PHP 1,000,000.00).
29
24


1 
Sec. 50. Unauthorized Disclosure. - (a) Any personal information controller or
2 
personal information processor or any of its officials, employees or agents, who discloses
3 
to a third party personal information not covered by the immediately ranging from one
4 
(1) year to three (3) years and a fine of not less than Five Hundred Thousand Pesos (PHP
5 
500,000.00) but not more than One Million Pesos (PHP 1,000,000.00), and (b)Any
6 
personal information controller or personal information processor or any of its officials,
7 
employees or agents, who discloses to a third party sensitive personal information not
8 
covered by the immediately preceding section without the consent of the data subject,
9 
shall be subject to imprisonment ranging from three (3) years to five (5) years and a
10 
fine of not less than Five Hundred Thousand Pesos (PHP 500,000.00) but not more than
11 
Two Million Pesos (PHP 2,000,000.00).
12 
Sec. 51. Combination or Series of Acts. - Any combination or series of acts as
13 
defined in Section 42 to 49 shall make the person subject to imprisonment ranging from
14 
three (3) years to six (6) years and a fine of not less than One Million Pesos (PHP
15 
1,000,000.00) but not more than Five Million Pesos (PHP 5,000,000.00).
16 
Sec. 52. Extent of Liability. - If the offender is a corporation, partnership or any
17 
juridical person, the penalty shall be imposed upon the responsible officers, as the case
18 
may be, who participated in, or by their gross negligence, allowed the commission of the
19 
crime. If the offender is a juridical person, the court may suspend or revoke any of its
20 
rights under this Act. If the offender is an alien, he or she shall, in addition to the penalties
21 
prescribed, be deported without further proceedings after serving the penalties
22 
prescribed. If the offender is a public official or employee and lie or she is found guilty of
23 
acts penalized under Section 44 and 45 of this Act, he or she shall, in addition to the
24 
penalties prescribed herein, suffer perpetual or temporary absolute disqualification from
25 
office, as the case may be.
26 
Sec. 53. Large-Scale. - The maximum penalty in the scale of penalties respectively
27 
provided for the preceeding offenses shall be Imposed when the personal information of
28 
at least one hundred (100) persons is harmed, affected or involved as the result of the
29 
abovementioned actions.
30
25


1 
Sec. 54. Offense Committed by Public Officer. - When the offender or the person
2 
responsible for the offense is a public officer as defined in the Administrative Code of the
3 
Philippines in the exercise of his or her duties, an accessory penalty consisting in the
4 
disqualification to occupy public office for a term double the term of criminal penalty
5 
imposed shall be applied.
6 
Sec. 55. Restitution. Restitution for any aggrieved party shall be governed by the
7 
provisions of the New Civil Code.
8 
Sec. 56. Liability of Supervising Persons. - Persons who directly supervise and
9 
control staff members entitled to fill EMR or EHR are liable for injuries associated with
10 
inaccurate or deficient summary reports provided by these staff members.
11 
Sec. 57. Liability of eHeaith Centers. - eHealth centers are liable for injuries
12 
associated with inaccurate or defective treatment caused by their software and database.
13 
Sec. 58. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days fi'om the
14 
effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of Health, after consultation with the DOST, DICT,
15 
University of the Philippines - Manila (National Telehealth Center), PhilHealth, CHED,
16 
medical and paramedical association and societies, and other stakeholders shall
17 
promulgate the necessary rules and regulations implementing the provisions of this Act.
18 
Sec. 59. Separability Clause. - If any part or provision of this Act shall be declared
19 
or held unconstitutional or invalid, other provisions hereof which are not affected thereby
20 
shall continue to be in full force and effect.
21 
Sec. 60. Repealing Clause. - All general and special laws, decrees, executive
22 
orders, proclamations and administrative regulation, or any parts thereof which are
23 
inconsistent with this Act hereby repealed, amended and modified accordingly.
24 
Sec. 61. Effectivity. - this Act shall take effect (15) days after its publication in the
25 
official gazette or in any two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
26
27 
Approved,
26