TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
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3t ;i;
25 JUL 15 P2:16
SENATE
S. No. 651
R’V£i\
Introduced by Senator MARK A. VILLAR
AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING A NATIONAL TELEMEDICINE SYSTEM IN THE
PHILIPPINES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Telemedicine refers to a system of delivering healthcare services through the 
use of information and communications technology as a complement to traditional 
healthcare systems. It includes the total management of a patient's health care from 
consultation, diagnosis, and treatment to prescription of medicine and record-keeping.
Globally, telemedicine has been adopted especially when mobility restriction 
and lockdowns were enforced during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on 
a study, telemedicine portrayed an unequivocal benefit as it provided continued 
services and accessibility to patients who need immediate medical response. 
Convenience, cost-effectiveness, decreased patient expenses, and time efficiency 
were also among the perceived benefits of telemedicine. Cancer patients are of the 
many people who reaped the benefits of this medical advancement.
Telemedicine has its potential in bridging healthcare inequity. It will also 
increase access for vulnerable and disadvantaged populations and to the far-flung, 
and unreachable areas. There are, however, obstacles as to the nationwide adoption 
of telemedicine such as the poor broadband internet access and doctor shortage.
Thus, this bill seeks to institutionalize the telemedicine system. It aims to create 
an innovative, unified, and comprehensive policy framework for the practice and 
development of telemedicine in the country. This bill likewise allows the use of 
information and communication technology in the delivery of healthcare services


especially in times of emergencies and disasters; to strengthen the health system and 
infrastructure of the country that will enable it to serve all Filipinos and withstand any 
unforeseen events.
Human life is sacred. Thus, it is the duty of the State to ensure that everyone 
shall be given due care and medical support for them to live longer and healthier. 
Every Filipino, regardless of their status and location, deserves to be provided with 
proper and quality health care.
Thus, in view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought.
MARK A. VILLAR
KJDC


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if'viiiir Ol ;
TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
25 JUL 15 P2:16
S. No.
SENATE
651
RLCKl'
Introduced by Senator MARK A. VILLAR
AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING A NATIONAL TELEMEDICINE SYSTEM IN THE
PHILIPPINES
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 "Telemedicine Act."
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - The State shall protect and promote the right to 
health of the people and instill health consciousness among them. Hence, it is the 
policy of the State to continuously search for, develop, and utilize innovative ways and 
systems to fully protect the health of all Filipinos, from the dense populations of urban 
centers to the far-flung and unreachable rural and remote areas.
It shall likewise be the policy of the State to encourage and strengthen 
initiatives for promoting health in times of emergencies and calamities through the 
use of information and communication technology.
Sec. 3. Objective. - The objectives of this Act are:
(a) To create an innovative, unified, and comprehensive policy framework for 
the practice and development of telemedicine in the country;
(b) To provide healthcare services, including consultation, diagnosis, treatment, 
and prescription of medicines especially in areas that have inadequate 
and/or are far from traditional healthcare institutions and professionals;
(c) To allow the use of information and communication technology in the 
delivery of healthcare services especially in times of emergencies and 
disasters; and


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(d)To strengthen the health system of the country that will enable it to serve
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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, is a
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system of delivering healthcare services through the use of information and
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communications technology as a complement to traditional healthcare systems.
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It includes the total management of a patient's health care from consultation,
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diagnosis, and treatment to prescription of medicine and record-keeping. It
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likewise includes the education and training of health personnel to capacitate
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them to 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 limited
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to:
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i. Digital interactive video, audio, and/or data transmission;
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ii. Video or web-conferencing technology;
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Hi. Still image capture or asynchronous store and forward; or
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iv. 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 shall be composed of
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the following members:
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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;
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(d) Secretary of the Interior and Local Government;
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(e) President of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation;
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(f) Director-General of the Food and Drug Administration;
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(g) Presidents of healthcare professional associations such as the Philippine
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Medical Association, Philippine Nurses Association, and the Philippine
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Pharmacists Association; and
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(h) Director of the Office for Telemedicine.
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Sec. 6. Functions of the Council. - The Council 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 and provide for a mechanism of accreditation for electronic
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healthcare providers;
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(d) Establish a national integrated database system for medical information;
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(e) Establish a system for electronic prescription of medicine;
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(f) Spearhead and promote research and development activities;
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(g) Capacitate and train existing and new healthcare professionals of the
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provision of health services; and
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(h) Set quality standards for systems, professionals and services.
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The Council shall convene as frequently as necessary to perform its mandated
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functions.
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Sec. 7. Implementing Agency and Secretariat — The Department of Health
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(DOH) shall be the lead agency in implementing this Act. For this purpose, an Office
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for 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. Emergency. - 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. — All 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 DOH shall promulgate the
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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 from 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. - All 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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provisions of this Act, are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.
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Sec. 16. Effectivity. -This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following
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its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,