FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
S. No. 2516 
) 
) 
) 
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
When the Electronic Commerce Act of 2000 was conceived in 
Congress, it was the primal intention to make every transaction both in the 
private and government offices easier and faster. Since then, private 
establishments and government offices 
conceptualized ways to make 
paper-less and remote transactions possible, making the life of the Filipinos 
less complicated. 
It is in this context that this bill was prepared. Having access to our 
own medical records electronically over the internet will not only save time, 
money and effort but more importantly, it will serve as a means of obtaining 
medical information of patients that can be useful in times of emergency. 
The business of providing healthcare service should ride on the 
present 
advanced 
services 
provided 
by 
the 
Information 
and 
Communications Technology. Let us exploit all the benefits which on-line 
transactions can deliver to our society in order to protect and save lives. 
In view of the foregoing, early passage of this bill is earnestly sought 
'0 
MAu.'"S: M. LAPID 
Senator 
/v"'-i 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
S. No. 2516 
) 
) 
} 
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid 
AN ACT 
MAKING AVAILABLE 
ELECTRONIC MEDICAL 
RECORDS 
OF 
ALL 
PATIENTS OF HOSPITALS AND CLINICS ESTABLISHING FOR THIS 
PURPOSE ELECTRONIC MEDICAL RECORD CENTER UNDER THE 
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFORE AND 
FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. 
Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Electronic 
Medical Records Act of 2010". 
SEC. 2. 
Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared policy of the State to 
adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to Ilsalth development which shall 
endeavor to make essential goods, health and other social services available to all the 
people. Towards this end, the State shall encourage the use of Information and 
Communications Technology (leT) for the fast, easy and reliable access to medical 
records of all patients by making available on-line their medical information in order to 
.. 
benefit them in times of emergency and immediate needs for the records. 
SEC. 3. 
, 
Definition of Terms . . - For purposes of this Act the following term 
shall mean: . 
1.) 
Electronic Medical Records - sh&1I refer to medical background and history 
of medical service provider's patients and such other information to be designed and 
developed by the Records Center. It shall come in a standard electronic formal. 
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2.) 
Medical Service Providers ._. shall refer to all medical practitioners, 
hospitals, clinics, centers and other similar institutions that provide medical care service 
and assistance. 
3.) 
Medical Practitioners -
shall refer to licensed phYSicians practicing In 
urban cities and muniCipalities. 
4.) 
Department - shall refer to the Department of Health (DOH). 
5.) 
Records Center - shall refer to the Electronic Medical Records Center 
created under this Act. 
6.) 
Secure Socket Layer - Also known as SSL is a technology which 
negotiates and employs the essential functions of mutual authentication, data 
encryption, and data integrity for secure transactions. The SSL security protocol 
provides data encryption, server authentication, message integrity, and client 
authenticatio'n for a TCP/IP connection. 
7.)' 
128-bit Encryption - represents a very strong method of encryption 
generated by every encrypted transaction. The process of encryption tlides data or the 
contents of a message in such a way that the original inforrnation can bfl recovered 
through a corresponding decryption process. Encryption and decryption are common 
techniques in securing electronic data communications. 
SEC. 4. 
Electronic Medical Records Facilities Creation, Maintenance 
and Uploading. -
All provisions of existing laws to the contrary notwithstanding, 
medical service providers shall create and maintain electronic medical records which 
shall be electronically uploaded on a regular basis. The medical service providers shall 
likewise maintain hard copies of the electronic records to be printed and stored as back-
up records. 
All concerned medical service providers may elect to keep their own existing 
format in addition to the new electronic records and its back-up for purposes of their 
own use or in providing hard copies to patients: Provided however, That back-up copies 
of electronic records shall, at all times, be included when providing hard copies to the 
requesting patients. 
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The electronic medical records facilities aside from keeping records, shall 
, 
likewise provide for an electronic facility where the patients and medical service 
providers can communicate on-line either In real time or off line. 
SEC. 5. 
Electronic Medical Records Center. - There shall be created an 
Electronic Medical Record Center to be placed under the Office of the Secretary of the 
Department of Health. The center shall serve as a hub of all databanks of medical 
records and other pertinent information significant to the patient's medical history. 
The Records Center shall generate specialized software to be distributed and 
used as the standard platform for the maintenance, updating, uploading and making 
available electronic Medical Records. 
The center shall enforce strict compliance with the uploading and updating of 
electronic medical records as provided for in this Act. 
SEC. 6. 
Security Features of Electronic Medical Records. - In order to 
assure the privacy of all medical records, electronic communications and transactions 
electronic medical records system shall use the existing 128-bit encryption or higher 
form of Secure Socket Layer (SSL) technology which may be devised In the future. 
The security features of electronic medical records shall likeWise comply with the 
security provisions as provided for in RA 8792 or the Electronic Commerce Law of 
2000. 
SEC. 7. 
. Funding. - There is hereby authorized to be appropriated for the 
implementahon of this Act the amount of Ten Million Pesos (Php10,00,000.00) for the 
initial operations of the Electronic Medical Records Center as an attached agency of the 
Department. Thereafter, such amount needed to implement this Act shall be included in 
the Annual Appropriations Act of the Department 
SEC. 8. 
Implementing Rules and Regulations (lRR). - The Department 
shall create a special committee to draft the Implementing Rules and Regulations 
governing this Act. Within three (3) months from the effectivity of this Act, the special 
committee shall submit the IRR to the Secretary of the Department who shall approve it 
within thirty (30) days. 
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SEC. 9. 
Separability Clause. _. If any provision of this Act or the application 
of such provision to any person or circumstances is held invalid, the remainder of this 
Act or the application of such provision to other persons or circumstances shall not be 
affected thereby. 
SEC. 10. 
Repealing Clause. - All laws, rules or orders inconsistent with the 
provisions of this Act are hereby repealed. 
SEC. 11. 
Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect upon completion of 
its publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulatIOn. 
Approved, 
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