NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
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SENATE 
S. No. 521
n fC’
ji) 
o*'' V
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• C'ff’CF' of t!)f s'.
*22 JUL 13 P2 57
m:C£!VED0.:
Introduced by SENATOR CYNTHIA A. VILLAR
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING PHILIPPINE eHEALTH SYSTEM AND SERVICES IN 
SUPPORT OF UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS 
THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines eHealth as "the use of 
information and communication technologies (ICT) for health." It is a relatively 
recent healthcare delivery method supported by electronic processes and ICTs. As 
early as 2005, the World Health Assembly (WHA) recognized the potential of eHealth 
to strengthen health systems and improve quality, safety and access to care, and 
encouraged Member States to take action to incorporate eHealth into their health 
systems and services (58th WHA, 2005; Geneva, Switzerland). Since then, the 
Department of Health (DOH) harnessed the potential value of eHealth as an 
innovative measure to deliver cost-efficient and sustainable interventions towards an 
integrated and comprehensive approach to healtfi development and universal access 
to healthcare. 
)
Specifically, eHealth has provided new and more efficient ways of improving 
the delivery of healthcare and making the health systems more efficient and 
responsive to people's needs and expectations, and concomitantly, in promoting 
access to evidence-based information for decision making. In fact, the advantages 
of eHealth became more pronounced in a pandemic setting where, due to mobility 
restrictions, many consultation of patients with their doctors and medical


practitioners had to be done through teleconsult, in liue of face-to-face consultation, 
just to ensure that the patients will be afforded timely and necessary healthcare 
interventions.
Under the Accelerating Human Capital Development Pillar of the Philippine 
Development Plan 2017-2022, one of the key cross-cutting strategies identified to 
improve nutrition and health for all is to invest in eHealth and data collection 
mechanisms to address data gaps. Moreover, under the Governance in Health and 
Service Delivery Pillars of the Department of Health’s Formula One Plus for Health 
Policy and Strategic Framework, eHealth has been identified as a strategic 
intervention to "ensure generation and use of evidence in health policy development, 
decision-making, and program planning and implementation," and "transparency and 
accountability measures at all levels instituted."
Given the growing prevalence of eHealth technologies and applications, and 
to achieve optimum and meaningful use of ICTs in health and to protect all the 
beneficiaries and stakeholders, this Bill aims to provide a policy framework and 
establish a national eHealth system that will direct and regulate the practice of 
eHealth in the country. Specifically, this measure will he'p direct and regulate action 
of providers; streamline and make systems and services interoperable; ensure 
patient safety and protection; define and guarantee quality of service; define and 
institutionalize governance mechanism to achieve coherence, cooperation and 
complementation; address issues on provision, access, availability, privacy and cyber 
security and information exchange, among others; support research, development 
and innovation; avoid duplication among eHealth services and efforts among 
government agencies with the private sector; establish the critical infrastructure; and 
define a budget to finance and sustain it. The vision is "An ICT-enabled and 
integrated Philippine Healthcare System delivering quality health outcomes to all 
Filipinos" to support the attainment of Universal Health Care (UHC).
In view of the foregoing, immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
CYNTHIA A. VILLAR


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
S. No. 521
#ffifr of flti- i' 'c Pt n'l’
*22 JUL 13 P2 57
RECEIVED BV:
Introduced by SENATOR CYNTHIA A. VILLAR
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING PHILIPPINE eHEALTH SYSTEM AND SERVICES IN 
SUPPORT OF UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS 
THEREFOR
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
ARTICLE I
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known and referred to as the 
"eHealth System and Services Act of 2022".
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to protect and 
promote the right to health of all Filipinos and instill health ccnsciousness among 
them. Towards this end, the State shall institutionalize a system of providing wide 
access to quality health information and services using information and 
communication technology (ICT), referred to as the National eHealth System 
(NEHS), resulting in better health outcomes for every Filipino, and further 
recognizing whole-of society and whole-of government approaches.
The NEHS shall be comprehensive, integrated, interoperable, progressive, 
secure and sustainable based on best current and future practices, and shall 
facilitate inter-agency and inter-sectoral coordination at various levels of governance 
covering both the public and private sectors. It shall recognize eHealth as


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supplemental and complementary with other healthcare delivery methods to the
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extent allowable by existing laws, provide and support healthcare delivery, including
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diagnosis, consultation, treatment, transfer of care of patient, exchange of health
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data and education, especially in medically unserved and underserved geographically
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isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs).
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Sec. 3. Objectives. This Act shall provide a holistic framework that establishes
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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;
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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 eHealth
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capacity and measuring results; and
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c) 
Enable the citizenry with suitable access to their own health
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information needed for better management and control of their own
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health.
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Sec. 4. Scope and Application. - This Act covers all existing healthcare
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providers and health-related entities developing and using eHealth systems, services
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and applications and tools, whether public or private. It shall cover all eHealth
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solutions, services and applications including relevant standard equipment in the
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field of health and ancillary services that use ICT and are complementary to existing
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minimum modalities or standards of health care and other means of access to
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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 solutions,
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products and innovations that are compliant with defined architecture
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of eHealth standards that enable services and systems, allow for
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^ interoperability of health services and information across geographic.


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organizational, network and vendor boundaries, and ensure data 
protection in accordance with Republic Act (R.A.) No. 10173, otherwise 
known as the "Data Privacy Act" and other related laws and issuances.
b) 
etiealth Data Services refer to key architectural data registries of the 
health sector enterprise needed to enable and support large scale 
health information interoperability and exchange.
c) 
etiealth System refers to the interplay of enabling (governance and 
accountability; strategy and investment; human resources; standards 
and interoperability; monitoring and compliance; research and 
development) ana foundational (infrastmcture; and services and 
applications) elements essential for a successful national eHealth 
implementation;
d) 
Electronic Health or eHealth refers to the use of cost-effective and 
secure information communications technology for health, also referred 
to as digital health;
e) 
Electronic Health Record (EHR) refers to a computerized health record 
used to capture, store, access and share information of a patient 
between and across health care providers and health-related entities;
f) 
Electronic Medical Record (EMR) refers to a computerized medical 
record used to capture, store and share information of a patient 
between health care providers in an institution or organization;
g) 
Electronic Prescription (ePrescription) refers to a system that allows 
healthcare providers to write and send prescriptions in an automated 
or electronic way to a pharmacy with capability to receive such;
h) 
Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDAs) refer to 
barangays specifically disadvantaged due to the presence of both 
physical and socio-economic factors. For a barangay to be classified as 
GIDA, both physical and socio-economic factors must be present.
1) Physical factors are characteristics that limit the delivery of 
and/or access to basic health services to communities that are
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difficult to reach due to distance, weather conditions, and
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transportation difficulties;
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2) Socio-economic 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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i) 
Health Passport refers to the portable personal health record of a
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patient linked to the electronic health/medical record whereby patients
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exercise control.
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j) 
Health Sector Enterprise Architecture refers to the blueprint on which
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eHealth services and applications shall be developed, implemented and
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scaled up.
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k) 
Information and Communications Technology refers to all technologies
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for the communication of information, which includes data, application
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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, including its
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components. The DOH shall strengthen and transform its existing Knowledge
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Management and Information Technology Service (KMITS) into a full-fledged
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Bureau, to be named as the National eHealth Information and Services Bureau (N e
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HISB), which shall perform the overall management and administration of this Act.
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Corresponding plantilla positions shall be created for this purpose.
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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 on Sec. 7 hereof.
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Sec. 7. Regional and Local Implementation Structures and Staffing Pattern. - 
To assist in the implementation of this Act and subject to the approval of the 
Department of Budget and Management, the DOH, in consultation with Philippine 
Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), Department of Information and 
Communications Technology (DI.CT), and Department of Science and Technology


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(DOST) shall determine the regional and local implementation structures and create 
divisions or units as it may deem necessary, and shall appoint officers and 
employees with permanent appointments and supported with an adequate yearly 
budget in accordance with the civil service law, rules, and regulations.
Setting up of the regional and local implementation structures shall support 
the organization and integration of local health systems into province-wide and city­
wide health system in accordance with R.A. No. 11223, otherwise known as the 
"Universal Health Care Act" and other related issuances.
ARTICLE II
GOVERNANCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY
Sec. 8. Creation of the etiealth Policy and Coordination Council. -There shall 
be created an independent body to be known as the eHealth Policy and Coordination 
Council (eHPCC) to provide and promote relevant policies and guidelines for the 
effective coordination and implementation of this Act. The Council shall be composed 
of the following key officials:
a) 
Secretary, Department of Health - Chairperson
b) 
Secretary, Department of Information and Communications Technology 
- Co-Chairperson
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President & Chief Executive Officer, Philippine Health Insurance 
Corporation - Co-Chairperson
Members:
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Secretary, National Economic Development Authority (NEDA)
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Secretary, Department of Science and Technology (DOST);
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Secretary, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD);
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Secretary, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG);
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Secretary, Department of Budget and Management (DBM);
I) Chancellor, University of the Philippines - Manila (UPM);
j) Chairman, Professional Regulation Commission (PRC);
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' k) Chairperson, Commission on Higher Education (CHED);
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Chairperson, National Privacy Commission (NPC);
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National Statistician, Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA);
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One (1) representative from the Philippine Hospital Association (PHA);
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One (1) representative from the Private Hospital Association of the 
Philippines (PHAPi);
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One (1) representative from the Provincial Health Officers Association 
of the Philippines (PHOAP);
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One (1) representative from the Association of Municipal Health 
Officers of the Philippines (AMHOP);
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Two (2) representatives from professional medical or health societies;
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One (1) representative from patients group; and
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One (1) representative from the ICT industry associations.
The heads of government agencies may be represented by an official whose 
rank shall not be lower than an Assistant Secretary or its equivalent. Members 
representing the private sector shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines 
not later than thirty (30) days after the date of enactment of this Act and shall serve 
for a term of three (3) years, renewable upon recommendation of the Council for a 
maximum of two (2) consecutive terms.
The government agency-members of the Council shall have t-he authority to 
act upon and decide on all urgent matters pending the formation of the Council and 
the appointment of members from the private sector by the President of the 
Philippines.
Sec. 9. Powers and Duties of the Council. - The Council shall exercise the 
following powers and functions:
a) Define and promote overall eHealth policies, standards and regulations 
at all levels of healthcare 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
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evaluation.
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Sec. 10. Creation of the Sub-Structure or Mechanism. - The Council shall
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create multi-sectoral groups, composed of both the private and public sectors to
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ensure broader stakeholder participation and for the furtherance of its objectives.
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Setting up of the sub-structures or mechanisms shall be in accordance with
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R.A. No. 11223, otherwise known as the "Universal Health Care Act" and other
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related issuances.
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ARTICLE III
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STANDARDS AND INTEROPERABILITY
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Sec. 11. Heaith Sector Enterprise Architecture. - The NeHS shall be operated
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within a health sector enterprise architecture that aligns and ensures that health and
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health-related data are made available and accessible anytime and anywhere to
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various stakeholders, business processes for health are streamlined and integrated,
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and services and applications are usable, safe, efficient and effective, following the
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health care business model provided under R.A. No. 11223, otherwise known as the
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"Universal Health Care Act" and other related issuances.
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Rationalization for safety and cost effectiveness, scope and standards for
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design 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 Compiiance. - 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 identifiers, terminology and messaging standards, and shall be in 
accordance with the Philippine eGovernment interoperability framework security and 
other relevant standards.
ARTICLE IV
SERVICES AND APPLICATIONS
Sec. 13. Rationalization of ehieaith Services and Applications. - Design, 
development, and implementation of eHealth services and applications shall focus on 
the automation and interoperability of the various mandatory business processes 
and data services in the health sector as laid out in the Health Sector Enterprise 
Architecture and which may be subjected to health technology assessment and shall 
comply with regulatory requirements.
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Sec. 14. Scope of eHeaith Services and Applications. - eHealth shall include
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the following areas:
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Mandatory eHealth Data Services:
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Master Person Index
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Master Provider (Human Resources) Index
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Master Facility Index
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Terminology or Health Services Registry
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National Immunization Registry
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Compliant eHealth Services and Applications, including but not limited 
to:
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Electronic Health Record and Electronic Medical Record
2) 
eLaboratory and ePrescription
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Health Passport
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Health Data/Information Exchange
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Health FaciliLy Operations and Management
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Disease Registries
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TeleHealth/TeleMedicine and mHealth
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Human Resources in eHealth
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Supply Chain Management
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Enterprise Resource Planning
ARTICLE V 
TELEHEALTH
Sec. 15. Regulations of TeleHealth Services and eHeaith Related Devices. - 
The Council, through the DOH, shall establish and maintain a regulatory system for 
telehealth services and eHealth-related devices.
Sec. 16. Standards of Practice and Certification of Individuals and Entities 
Providing TeleHealth Services. - To complement the regulations of telehealth 
services and eHealth-related devices, the Professional Regulation Commission and 
DOH, in consultation with, PhilHealth, UPM-Nationai TeleHealth Center, DICT, 
academia, medical and specialty societies, non-government organizations, the 
private and business sectors, shall set the standards of practice and implement a 
certification mechanism for health care providers and health-related entities 
providing telehealth services.
ARTICLE VI 
HUMAN RESOURCES
Sec. 17. Human Resource in eHeaith. - The human resource for eHealth are 
health care professionals who shall plan, design, build, operate, use, maintain and 
support the eHealth services and applications.
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The DOH, PRC, CHED, DICT, and Technical Education and Skills Development
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Authority (TESDA), in consultation with medical and specialty societies, IT
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professional associations, and academia, shall establish the minimum competencies


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and impose the same on health, health-related and digital health professionals. This
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shall be part of the curriculum of health and health-related 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 Development
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Plan which shall develop new curricula, integrate changes in existing curricula,
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create formal and non-formal training programs, and continuing professional
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development programs concerning the practice of eHealth. There shall also be
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creation of personnel services items, plantilla positions, and other employment
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opportunities for human resources in government hospitals and institutions to
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manage and enable eHealth in 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
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infrastructure to implement eHealth services and applications.
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Sec. 20. National Health Data Center. - The PhilHealth, in coordination with
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the DOH, DICT and DOST, shall establish and maintain the national ehealth data
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center, and implement an agile and sustainable data management and governance
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framework and system in support to R.A. No. 11223, otherwise known as the
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"Universal Health Care Act," and in compliance with R.A. No. 10173, otherwise
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known as the "Data Privacy Act of 2012" for data protection.
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ARTICLE VIII
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STRATEGY AMD INVESTMENT
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Sec. 21. National eHealth Strategic Framework and Plan. - The Council shall
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spearhead the development and monitoring of strategic framework and plan to serve
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and guide the operations of a national eHealth system.
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Sec. 22. Financing the eHealth Strategic Framework and Plan. - Financing for
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the national eHealth system by DOH, PhilHealth and other partners, as defined by
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the Council, shall be made available to scale up eHealth implementation at the
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national level.
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Sec. 23. Private Sector Participation. - The DOH shall promulgate rules
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regarding the participation of the private sector in the provision of eHealth services,
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applications, and ICT infrastructure, including public-private partnerships, and other
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suitable arrangements.
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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 monitor
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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 wi^h R.A. No. 10532
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otherwise known as the "Philippine National Health Research System 
Act of 2013,"
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and the mandate of the DOST, the DOST — Philippine Council for Health 
Research
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and Development (DOST-PCHRD), in consultation with DOH, PRC, CHED, DICT,
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PhilHealth, UPM - National TeleHealth Center, academia, regional health research
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consortia, medical and specialty societies, non-government organizations, the private
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and business sectors, shall ensure the development of new eHealth services,
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applications and innovations through:
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Formulation of eHealth research priority areas under the National
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Unified Health Research Agenda (NUHRA), and other research
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agendas;
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Funding and mobilizing resources for researches on eHealth, including
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creation of formal and non-formal capability building programs for the
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development of a pool of eHealth researchers and innovators, which
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are aligned with the research agenda;
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Establishment and strengthening of centers of excellence of eHealth
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policy studies, research and development; and
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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 
into the policy and decision-making process and national eHealth 
standards, and support the growth of research consortia on eHealth.
A separate unit within the PCHRD shall handle and manage eHealth related 
activities and programs. The human resource requirement of such a unit shall be 
determined by PCHRD in consultation with DOH, CSC and DBM.
Sec. 26. Funding Source for Research and Development - The DOH, 
PhilHealth, DOST, DICT, CHED, and DILG shall allocate at least 1% of their 
respective annual regular budget In support of eHealth research and development. 
Other government agencies, state universities and colleges (SUCs), private entities, 
and non-government organizations are encouraged to provide financial support for 
eHealth research and development.
ARTICLE XI
ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTIES
Sec. 27. Rules and Procedures for Administrative Violations and Complaints. - 
The Council shall promulgate rules and procedures relating to administrative 
violations and complaints, insofar as they relate to the establishment and operations 
of the national eHealth system.
ARTICLE XII
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
Sec. 28. Transitory Provisions. - The transformation of KMITS into a full- 
fledged Bureau and the formulation of the internal organic structure and regional 
and local implementation structures, staffing pattern, operating system, and the 
revised budget of the Department for health information technology shall be 
completed within six (6) months from the effectivity of the Implementing Rules and 
Regulations (IRR) of this Act, during which time, the existing KMITS and regional 
and local implementation personnel shall continue to serve in holdover capacities 
until a full and permanent Bureau is constituted and functioning, and new 
appointments are issued.
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Sec. 29. Appropriations. - The amount needed for the initial implementation 
of this Act shall be taken from the current fiscal year's appropriation of the DOH for 
health information technology.
For the succeeding years the amo' int needed for eHealth in the DOH budget 
and in the budget of other agencies with specific mandates provided in this Act shall 
be based on the strategic plan formulated by the Council, in coordination with other 
stakeholders. The amount shall be included in the National Expenditure Program 
(NEB) as basis for the General Appropriations Bill (GAB).
Further, other sources of funds can come from the Private Sector Participation 
Program, Joint DOH-PhilHealth-DICT-DOST undertakings on eHealth, and Medium- 
Term Information and Communications Technology Harmonization Initiative 
(MITHI).
Sec. 30. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within one hundred eighty 
days (180) days from the effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of DOH, after 
consultation with the Secretaries of DICT and DOST, the President and Chief 
Executive Officer of PhilHealtt., the Chancellor of UPM, the Chairman of the 
Professional Regulation Commission, the Chairperson of CHED, the National 
Statistician of PSA, and representatives of medical and paramedical associations and 
societies, and other stakeholders, shall promulgate the necessary rules and 
regulations implementing the provisions of this Act.
Sec. 31. Separability Clause. - If any part or provision of this Act is held 
invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not affected shall 
remain in full force and effect.
Sec. 32. Repealing Clause. - All general and special laws, decrees, executive 
orders, proclamations and administrative regulation, or any parts thereof which are 
inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, amended and modified accordingly.
Sec. 33. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in any newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,
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