NINETEETH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
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23 FEB 14 P6 36
SENATE
s. No. 18 8 3
Introduced by Senator Raffy T. Tulfo
AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING A NATIONAL MEDICINE SYSTEM IN THE PHILIPPINES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Telemedicine is a method of seeking professional medical help with the use of 
technologies and devices such as smartphones and computers to remotely gain 
information regarding their health status. Through this, health care professionals are 
able to diagnose and treat patients without the need for long travels or in-person 
hospital visits. It has the potential to bridge healthcare inequity and increase access for 
vulnerable and disadvantaged populations.
In the Philippines, access to basic healthcare services remains a major challenge. 
There is also a stark difference between healthcare service in a public and private 
hospital, and those in urban and rural areas. According to the Philippine Statistics 
Authority, out of the 582,183 registered deaths in 2016, 342,705 or 59.2 percent were 
unattended by a physician, public health officer, hospital authority or other medical 
personnel, while 236,904 or 40.5 percent were medically attended. Among all regions, 
only the National Capital Region (NCR) had a greater number of medically attended 
deaths (42,045 or 7.2 percent) than unattended cases.


Furthermore, a study from the University of Texas - School of Public Health of a 
selected town in the Philippines, only 15% of the inhabitants had undergone medical 
check-up despite the fact that 63% of them had reported a family history of chronic 
diseases.
Problems faced by the healthcare system in the Philippines won't be solved 
overnight. However, through telemedicine, Filipinos can have alternative access to health 
services regardless of where they're from.
This bill seeks to promote and institutionalize a national telemedicine system in 
the Philippines through the use of information and communication technology.
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
affy T. Tulfo


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NINETEETH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
s.No.smfa
23 FEB 14 P 6 *36
Introduced by Senator Raffy T. Tulfo
AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING A NATIONAL MEDICINE SYSTEM IN THE PHILIPPINES
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
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Section. 1. Short Title. -This Act shall be known as the 'Telemedicine Act."
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Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. -The State shall protect and promote the right to
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health of the people and instill health consciousness among them. Hence, it is the policy
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of the State to continuously search for, develop, and utilize innovative ways and systems
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to fully protect the health of all Filipinos, from the dense populations of urban centers to
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the far-flung and unreachable rural and remote areas.
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It shall likewise be the policy of the State to encourage and strengthen initiatives
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for promoting health in times of emergencies and calamities through the use of
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information and communication technology.
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Sec. 3. Objectives. -The objectives of this Act are:
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a) To create an innovative, unified, and comprehensive policy framework for the
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practice and development of telemedicine in the country.


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b) To provide healthcare services, including consultation, diagnosis, treatment,
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and prescription of medicines especially In areas that have inadequate or
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are far from traditional healthcare institutions and professionals;
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c) To allow the use of information and communication technology in the
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delivery of healthcare services especially in times of emergencies and
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disasters; and
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d) To strengthen the health system and infrastructure of the country that will
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enable it to serve all Filipinos and withstand any unforeseen events.
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Sec. 4. Definition of Terms.- For the purposes of this Act, the following
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definitions shall apply:
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a) Telemedicine- also referred to as telehealth or electronic healthcare,
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is a system of delivering healthcare services through the use of
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information and communications technology as a complement to
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traditional healthcare systems. It includes the total management of
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a patient's health care from consultation, diagnosis, and treatment
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to prescription of medicine and record-keeping. It likewise includes
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the education and training of health personnel to capacitate them
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use telemedicine systems as well as the development of applications
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and programs for the furtherance of health.
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b) Information and Communications Technology - includes but is not
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limited to:
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a. Digital interactive video, audio, and/or data transmission;
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b. Video or web-conferencing technology;
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c. Still image capture or asynchronous store and forward;
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d. Modern medical devices for patient care and diagnosis.
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Sec. 5. National Telemedicine Council.- A National Telemedicine Council,
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hereinafter referred to as "Council", is hereby established and composed of the
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following:
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a. Secretary of Health, who shall serve as Chairperson;
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b. Secretary of Information and Communication Technology;


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c. Secretary of Science and Technology;
d. Secretary of the Interior and Local Government;
e. President of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation;
f. 
Director-General of the Food and Drug Administration;
g. Presidents of healthcare professional associations such as the Philippine 
Medical Association, Philippine Nurses Association, and the Philippine 
Pharmacists Association; and
h. Director of the Office for Telemedicine.
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Sec. 6. Functions of the Council. -The Council, with regard to telemedicine in
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the Philippines, shall:
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a. Establish guidelines and regulations on the practice and provision of
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services;
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b. Create a national roadmap for the achievement and furtherance of the
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objectives of this act;
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c. Establish a national integrated database system for medical information;
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d. Establish and provide for a mechanism of accreditation for electronic
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healthcare providers;
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e. Establish a system for electronic prescription of medicine;
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f. Capacitate and train existing and new healthcare professionals on the
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provision of health services; and
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g. Set quality standards for systems, professionals and services.
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The Council shall convene as frequently as necessary to perform
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its mandated functions.
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Sec. 7. Implementing Agency and Secretariat -The Department of Health shall
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be the lead agency in implementing this Act. For this purposes, an Office of
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Telemedicine shall be created under the Department which shall serve as the
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Secretariat for the Council. The Office for Telemedicine shall be headed by a Director.
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Sec. 8. Practice of Medicine.-The provision of Telemedicine services shall be
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limited only to registered physicians. Telemedicine services shall be deemed as acts


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constituting practice of medicine, and shall result to the establishment of a doctor-
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patient relationship.
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Sec. 9. Emergeno'.- The Council shall establish special rules and systems for
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the enhanced utilization of Telemedicine in times of emergencies and calamities.
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Sec. 10. Privacy.-AW medical records generated, including records maintained
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via video, audio, electronic, or other means acquired through Telemedicine must
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conform to the laws regarding the confidentiality of healthcare information of the
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patient, rights to medical information, and recordkeeping requirements. Any violation
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of this provision shall be penalized to the maximum extent under the law.
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Sec. 11. Standard of Care.- The standard of care shall be the same as the
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standard of care required in traditional or non-Telemedicine healthcare services.
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Sec. 12. Implementing Rules and Regulations. -The Council shall promulgate
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the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act within
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ninety (90) days from its effectivity.
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Sec. 13. Appropriations.-The amount necessary for the initial implementation
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this Act shall be taken form the current appropriations of the DOH. Thereafter, the
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amount needed for the continued implementation of this Act shall be included in the
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annual appropriations of the DOH as a distinct and separate item.
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Sec. 14. Separability Clause.- If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or
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unconstitutional, the remaining provisions shall continue to be in full force and effect.
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Sec. 15. Repealing Clause.-AW laws, decrees, executive orders, proclamations,
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rules and regulations, and issuances, or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the
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provision of this Act, are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.
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Sec. 16. Effectivity.- This Act shall taken effect fifteen (15) days after its
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publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,