1
Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
Nineteenth Congress 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _____ 
Introduced by Representative Rudys Caesar G. Fariñas I 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill establishes the National eHealth System (NeHS) to provide broad access 
to quality health information and services using information and communication 
technology. This bill designs the NeHS as integrated, comprehensive, 
interoperable, progressive, secure, and sustainable based on best current and 
future practices. In addition, the NeHS shall facilitate inter-agency and inter-
sectoral coordination at various levels of governance, covering both the public 
and private sectors. 
This measure provides for establishing a national eHealth system to promote and 
ensure streamlined and safely regulated delivery of eHealth services. The NeHS 
covers all existing healthcare providers and entities developing and using 
eHealth systems, services, applications, and tools. 
Finally, this bill strengthens the Department of Health (DOH) by creating an e-
health information and services bureau. In addition, this measure capacitates 
the DOH to entirely overhaul the existing Knowledge Management and 
Information Technology Service (KMITS) to improve service delivery. 
Hence, this representation seeks the passage of this measure. 
RUDYS CAESAR G. FARIÑAS I 
November 21, 2022
3:39 pm
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Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
Nineteenth Congress 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _____ 
Introduced by Representative Rudys Caesar G. Fariñas I 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE ELECTRONIC HEALTH OR eHEALTH 
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:     
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ARTICLE I 
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GENERAL PROVISIONS 
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SECTION 1.  Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “eHealth System and 
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Services Act”. 
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SEC. 2. Declaration of Policies. – It is the policy of the State to protect and 
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promote the right to health of all Filipinos and instill health consciousness 
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among them. Toward this end, the State shall institutionalize a system of 
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providing wide access to quality health information and services using 
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information and communication technology (ICT), referred to as the National 
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eHealth System (NeHS), resulting in better health outcomes for every Filipino, 
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and further recognizing whole-of-society and whole-of-government approaches. 
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The NeHS shall be integrated, comprehensive, interoperable, progressive, 
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secure and sustainable based on best current and future practices, and shall 
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facilitate inter-agency and inter-sectoral coordination at various levels of 
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governance covering both the public and private sectors. It shall recognize 
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eHealth as supplemental and complementary with other healthcare delivery 
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methods to the extent allowable by existing laws, provide and support healthcare 
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delivery, including diagnosis, consultation, treatment, transfer of care of patient, 
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exchange of health data and education, especially in medically unserved and 
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underserved geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs). 
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SEC. 3.  Objectives. – This Act shall provide a holistic framework that 
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establishes a NeHS, which shall: 
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a) Set policies, standards, priorities, plans, programs and projects that 
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promote and ensure streamlined and safely regulated delivery of 
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eHealth services to reduce inequalities, achieve universal health care, 
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and better health outcomes; and 
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b) Clarify roles of agencies, institutions, and entities regarding their 
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performance and accountabilities in building national and local 
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eHealth capacity and measuring results. 
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SEC. 4.  Scope and Application. – This Act covers all existing health care 
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providers and other entities developing and using eHealth systems, services and 
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applications and tools, whether public or private, including relevant standard 
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equipment in the field of health and ancillary services that use ICT and are 
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complementary to existing minimum modalities or standards of health care and 
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other means of access to information. 
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SEC. 5. Definition of Terms. – As used in this Act:  
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a) Compliant 
eHealth services and applications refer to the 
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requirements of a defined architecture of eHealth standards that enable 
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services and systems, allow for interoperability of health services and 
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information exchange across geographic, organizational, network, 
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vendor boundaries, and ensure data protection in accordance with 
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Republic Act (R.A.) No. 10173, otherwise known as the “Data Privacy 
26 
Act” and other related laws and issuances;  
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b) eHealth or Electronic health refers to the use of cost-effective and 
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secure information and communications technology for health care 
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practice, also referred to as digital health; 
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c) eHealth data services refer to key architectural data registries of the 
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health sector needed to enable and support large scale health 
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information interoperability and exchange; 
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d) eHealth System refers to the interplay of enabling and foundational 
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elements essential for a successful national eHealth implementation, 
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namely, (1) governance and accountability, (2) standards and 
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interoperability, (3) services and operations, (4) telehealth, (5) human 
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resources, (6) infrastructure, (7) strategy and investment, (8) 
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monitoring and compliance, and (9) research and development; 
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e) eHealth services and applications refer to the solutions, products and 
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innovations with defined objectives to serve its intended clients or 
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users, such as health information systems, electronic medical record 
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systems, electronic health record system, enterprise resource planning 
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system, ePharmacy system, laboratory system, radiology system, 
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electronic prescription system, human resource information system, 
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registry systems, mobile health, telehealth, telemedicine, wearables, 
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and biomedical and related devices with ICT component; 
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f) Electronic health record (EHR) refers to a computerized health record 
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used to capture, store, access and share information of a patient 
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between and across health care providers and health-related entities; 
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g) Electronic medical record (EMR) refers to a computerized medical 
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record used to capture, store and share information of a patient to 
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health care providers in an institution or organization; 
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h) Electronic prescription (ePrescription) refers to a system that allows 
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healthcare providers to write and send prescriptions in an automated 
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or electronic way to a pharmacy with capability to receive such;  
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i) Geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs) refer to 
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barangays specifically disadvantaged due to the presence of both 
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physical and socio-economic factors. For a barangay to be classified as 
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GIDA, both physical and socio-economic factors must be present:  
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1. Physical factors are characteristics that limit the delivery of and/or 
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access to basic health services to communities that are difficult to 
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reach due to distance, weather conditions, and transportation 
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difficulties;  
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2. Socioeconomic 
factors 
are 
social, 
cultural, 
and 
economic 
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characteristics of     the community that limit access to and 
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utilization of health services;  
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j) Health sector enterprise architecture refers to the blueprint on 
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which eHealth services and applications shall be developed, 
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implemented, and scaled up; and 
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k) Information 
and 
communications 
technology 
refers 
to 
all 
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technologies for the communication of information, which include data, 
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application or information systems, internet, network, connectivity, 
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telecommunications, among others. 
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SEC. 6. Implementing Agency. – The Department of Health (DOH) shall be the 
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lead implementing agency to carry out the provisions of this Act. The DOH shall 
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strengthen and transform its existing Knowledge Management and Information 
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Technology Service (KMITS) into a full-fledged Bureau, to be called as the 
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National eHealth Information and Services Bureau (NeHISB), and which shall 
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perform the overall management and administration of this Act. The additional 
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plantilla position to be created for this purpose shall be submitted to the 
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Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for evaluation and approval. 
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The Bureau shall also serve as a secretariat of the eHealth Policy and 
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Coordination Council as provided in Sec. 8 hereof.  
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SEC. 7. Regional and Local Implementation Structures and Staffing 
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Pattern. – To assist in the implementation of this Act, the regional organizational 
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structures shall be lodged under the Center for Health Development of the DOH 
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while local organizational structures shall be subject to the discretion of the local 
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government units (LGUs) in relation to Section 76 of R.A. No. 7160 or the “Local 
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Government Code of 1991.” 
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ARTICLE II 
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GOVERNANCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY 
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SEC. 8. Creation of the eHealth Policy and Coordination Council. – There 
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shall be created an independent body to be known as the eHealth Policy and 
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Coordination Council, hereby referred to as the Council, to provide and promote 
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relevant policies and guidelines for the effective coordination and implementation 
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of this Act. The Council shall be composed of the following key officials: 
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a) Secretary, DOH – Chairperson 
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b) Secretary, DICT – Co-Chairperson 
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c) President & Chief Executive Officer, PhilHealth – Co-Chairperson 
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d) Secretary, DOST; 
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e) Secretary, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD); 
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f) 
Secretary, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG); 
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g) Secretary, DBM; 
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h) Chancellor, University of the Philippines – Manila (UPM); 
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i) 
Chairman, Professional Regulation Commission (PRC); 
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j) 
Chairperson, Commission on Higher Education (CHED); 
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k) Chairperson, National Privacy Commission (NPC);  
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l) 
National Statistician, Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA); 
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m) Two (2) representatives from professional medical or health societies;  
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n) One (1) representative from patients’ group; and 
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o) One (1) representative from the ICT industry associations. 
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The heads of government agencies may be represented by a designated official 
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whose rank shall not be lower than Assistant Secretary or its equivalent. 
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Members representing the private sector shall be appointed by the President of 
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the Philippines not later than thirty (30) days after the effectivity of this Act and 
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shall serve for a term of three (3) years, renewable upon recommendation of the 
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Council for a maximum of two (2) consecutive terms. 
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The government agency-members of the Council shall have the authority to act 
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upon and decide on all urgent matters pending the formation of the Council and 
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the appointment of members from the private sector by the President of the 
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Philippines.  
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SEC. 9.   Powers and Duties of the Council. – The Council shall exercise the 
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following powers and functions: 
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a) 
Define and promote over-all eHealth policies, standards and 
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regulations at all levels of health care system, public and private; 
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b) 
Ensure integration and coordination of national and local eHealth 
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strategies and initiatives; and 
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c) 
Submit yearly assessments and accomplishment reports to the Senate 
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Committee 
on 
Health 
and 
Demography 
and 
the 
House 
of 
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Representatives Committee on Health for performance monitoring and 
48 
evaluation. 
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SEC. 10. Ensuring Broader Participation in eHealth Implementation. – The 
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Council shall create multi-sectoral groups, composed of both the private and 
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public sectors to ensure broader stakeholder participation and for the 
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furtherance of its objectives.  
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Setting up of the sub-structures or mechanisms shall be in accordance with R.A. 
1 
No. 11223, otherwise known as the “Universal Health Care Act” and other related 
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issuances.  
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ARTICLE III 
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STANDARDS AND INTEROPERABILITY 
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SEC. 11. Health Sector Enterprise Architecture. – The NeHS shall be operated 
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within the health sector enterprise architecture that aligns and ensure that 
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health and health-related data are made available and accessible anytime and 
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anywhere to various stakeholders, business processes for health are streamlined 
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and integrated, and services and applications are usable, safe, efficient and 
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effective, following the health care business model provided under R.A. No. 
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11223, otherwise known as the “Universal Health Care Act” and other related 
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issuances. 
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Rationalization for safety and cost effectiveness, scope and standards for design 
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and use of technologies in the health sector shall also be defined in this 
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architecture.  
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All health care providers and health-related entities shall adopt a health 
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enterprise architecture as defined and guided by the Council. 
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SEC. 12. Standards Compliance. – All health care providers and health-related 
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entities shall comply with the data standards to allow interoperability and health 
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information exchange, and ensure data protection in accordance with R.A. No. 
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10173, otherwise known as the “Data Privacy Act” and other related laws and 
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issuances.  
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These standards shall include, inter alia, patient identifier, health care provider 
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identifiers, and terminology and messaging standards, and shall be in 
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accordance with the Philippine eGovernment interoperability and data security 
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framework, and other relevant standards. 
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ARTICLE IV 
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SERVICES AND APPLICATIONS 
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SEC. 13. Rationalization of eHealth Services and Applications. – Design, 
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development, and implementation of eHealth services and applications shall 
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focus on the automation and interoperability of the various mandatory business 
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processes and data services in the health sector as laid out in the Health Sector 
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Enterprise Architecture which shall comply with regulatory requirements and 
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may be subjected to health technology assessment.  
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SEC. 14. Scope of eHealth Services and Applications. – eHealth services shall 
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include the following areas: 
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a) 
Mandatory eHealth Data Services: 
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1) Master Person Index 
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2) Master Provider (Human Resources) Index 
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3) Master Facility Index 
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4) Terminology or Health Services Registry 
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5) National Immunization Registry 
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b) 
Compliant eHealth Services and Applications: 
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1) Electronic Health Record/Electronic Medical Record 
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2) Health Information Exchange 
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3) Health Facility Operations and Management 
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4) Disease Registries 
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5) TeleHealth/TeleMedicine 
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6) Human Resources in eHealth 
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7) Supply Chain Management 
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Article V 
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TELEHEALTH 
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SEC. 15. Regulations of TeleHealth Services and eHealth Related Devices. 
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– The Council, through the DOH, shall establish and maintain a regulatory 
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system for telehealth services and eHealth-related devices.   
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SEC. 16. Standards of Practice and Certification of Individuals and 
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Entities Providing TeleHealth Services. – To complement the regulations of 
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telehealth services and eHealth-related devices, the PRC and the DOH, in 
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consultation with PhilHealth, UPM–National TeleHealth Center, DICT, academia, 
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medical and specialty societies, non-government organizations, and the private 
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and business sectors, shall set the standards of practice and implement a 
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certification mechanism for health care providers and health-related entities 
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providing telehealth services. 
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ARTICLE VI 
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HUMAN RESOURCES 
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SEC. 17.   Human Resource in eHealth. – Health care professionals shall plan, 
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design, build, operate, use, maintain and support eHealth services and 
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applications.  
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The DOH, PRC, CHED, DICT, and Technical Education and Skills Development 
30 
Authority (TESDA), in consultation with medical and specialty societies, IT 
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professional associations, and academia, shall establish the minimum 
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competencies and impose the same on health, health-related and digital health 
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professionals. This shall be part of the curriculum of health and health-related 
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courses.  
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SEC. 18.   Human Resource for eHealth Development Plan. – The DOH, PRC, 
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CHED, and TESDA shall formulate the Human Resource for eHealth 
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Development Plan which shall develop new curricula, integrate changes in 
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existing curricula, create formal and non-formal training programs, and 
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continuing professional development programs concerning the practice of 
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eHealth. There shall also be creation of personnel services item, plantilla 
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positions, and other employment opportunities for human resource in 
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government hospitals and institutions to manage and enable eHealth in 
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healthcare and related services. 
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ARTICLE VII 
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INFRASTRUCTURE 
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SEC. 19.  ICT Infrastructure. – The DICT, in coordination with DOH, 
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PhilHealth, and DOST, shall establish and maintain the necessary national ICT 
50 
infrastructure to implement eHealth services and applications.  
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SEC. 20.  National eHealth Data Center. – The PhilHealth, in coordination 
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with the DOH, DICT and DOST, shall establish and maintain the National 
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eHealth Data Center, and implement an agile and sustainable data management 
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and governance framework and system in support to R.A. No. 11223, otherwise 
2 
known as the “Universal Health Care Act,” and in compliance with R.A. No. 
3 
10173, otherwise known as the “Data Privacy Act of 2012” for data protection.  
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ARTICLE VIII 
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STRATEGY AND INVESTMENT 
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SEC. 21. National eHealth Strategic Framework and Plan. – The Council 
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shall spearhead the development and monitoring of strategic framework and 
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plan to serve and guide the operations of the NeHS.  
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SEC. 22. Financing the eHealth Strategic Framework and Plan. – Financing 
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for the NeHS by DOH, PhilHealth and other partners, as defined by the Council, 
12 
shall be made available to scale up eHealth implementation at the national level. 
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SEC. 23.  Private Sector Participation. – The DOH shall promulgate rules 
15 
regarding the participation of the private sector, including public-private 
16 
partnerships, and other suitable arrangements, in the provision of eHealth 
17 
services, applications, and ICT infrastructure. 
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ARTICLE IX 
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MONITORING AND COMPLIANCE 
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SEC. 24. Monitoring and Compliance. – The Council shall measure and 
22 
monitor the performance and progress of the implementation of this Act.  
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ARTICLE X 
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RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 
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SEC. 25.  Research and Development. – Consistent with R.A. No. 10532, 
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otherwise known as the “Philippine National Health Research System Act of 
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2013,” and the mandate of the DOST,  the DOST — Philippine Council for Health 
30 
Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD), in consultation with DOH, PRC, 
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CHED, DICT, PhilHealth, UPM – National TeleHealth Center, academia, regional 
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health research consortia, medical and specialty societies, non-government 
33 
organizations, and the private and business sectors, shall ensure the 
34 
development of new eHealth services and applications through: 
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a) Formulation of eHealth research priority areas under the National 
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Unified Health Research Agenda (NUHRA), and other research agendas;  
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b) Funding and mobilizing resources for researches on eHealth, including 
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creation of formal and non-formal capability building programs for the 
40 
development of a pool of eHealth researchers and innovators, which are 
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aligned with the research agenda; 
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c) Establishment and strengthening of centers of excellence of eHealth 
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policy studies, research and development; and  
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d) Establishment and adherence of mechanisms that strengthen eHealth 
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innovation research and strategy to the health technology assessment 
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process as provided under R.A. No. 11223, otherwise known as the 
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“Universal Health Care Act,” and that integrate explicit use of evidence 
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into the policy and decision-making process and national eHealth 
49 
standards, and support the growth of research consortia on eHealth; 
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A separate unit within the PCHRD shall handle and manage eHealth related 
1 
activities and programs. The human resource requirement of such unit shall be 
2 
determined by PCHRD in consultation with the DOH, CSC and DBM. 
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ARTICLE XI 
5 
ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTIES 
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SEC. 26.  Rules and Procedures for Administrative Violations and 
8 
Complaints. – The Council shall promulgate rules and procedures relating to 
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administrative violations and complaints, insofar as they relate to the 
10 
establishment and operations of the NeHS.  
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ARTICLE XII 
13 
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS 
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SEC. 27. Appropriations. – The amount necessary for the implementation of 
16 
this Act shall be included in the Annual General Appropriations Act. 
17 
 
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SEC. 28. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within one hundred eighty 
19 
days (180) days from the effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of DOH, shall, after 
20 
consultation with the Secretaries of DICT and DOST, the President and Chief 
21 
Executive Office of PhilHealth, the Chancellor of UPM, the Chairman of the PRC, 
22 
the Chairperson of CHED, the National Statistician of PSA, and representatives 
23 
of medical and paramedical associations and societies, and other stakeholders, 
24 
promulgate the necessary rules and regulations implementing the provisions of 
25 
this Act.  
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SEC. 29.  Transitory Provisions. – The transformation of KMITS into a full-
28 
fledged Bureau and the formulation of the internal organic structure and 
29 
regional and local implementation structures, staffing pattern, operating system, 
30 
and the revised budget of the DOH for health information technology shall be 
31 
completed within six (6) months from the promulgation of the Implementing 
32 
Rules and Regulations of this Act, during which time, the existing KMITS and 
33 
regional and local implementation personnel shall continue to serve in holdover 
34 
capacities until a full and permanent Bureau is constituted and functioning, and 
35 
new appointments are issued. 
36 
 
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SEC. 30. Separability Clause. – If any part or provision of this Act is held 
38 
invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not affected shall 
39 
remain in full force and effect. 
40 
 
41 
SEC. 31. Repealing Clause. – All general and special laws, decrees, executive 
42 
orders, proclamations and administrative regulation, or parts thereof which are 
43 
inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, amended and modified 
44 
accordingly. 
45 
 
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SEC. 32. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
47 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
48 
 
49 
Approved, 
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