Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL No. _______ 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Introduced by HONORABLE ERNESTO “ERNIX” M. DIONISIO, JR. 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
AN ACT 
INSTITUTIONALIZING A NATIONAL TELEMEDICINE SYSTEM 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The pandemic has highlighted the need for a hybrid mode of consultation with 
physicians, save for emergency cases which necessitates a physical visit to the 
hospital. While some private hospitals have started this initiative, there is still a need 
to pool the resources available to strengthen healthcare in this country.   
Section 11, Article XIII of the 1987 Constitution states: “The State shall adopt 
an integrated and comprehensive approach to health development which shall 
endeavor to make essential goods, health and other social services available to all 
the people at affordable cost”. 
In line with this Constitutional mandate, this proposed bill seeks to introduce 
measures to expand the reach of Telemedicine in the Philippines in coordination with 
relevant stakeholders. This will allow Filipinos to reach and consult with health 
professionals and receive proper instructions and advice on how to address their 
health concerns in an accessible manner. In view of the foregoing, the passage of this 
bill is highly sought.  
October 7, 2022
4:44 pm
5485


Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL No. _______ 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Introduced by HONORABLE ERNESTO “ERNIX” M. DIONISIO, JR. 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
AN ACT 
INSTITUTIONALIZING A NATIONAL TELEMEDICINE SYSTEM 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION. 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the Telemedicine Act. 
SECTION 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 declared policy of the State to formulate innovative ways and systems to fully 
protect and uphold the right to health of all Filipinos.  It shall likewise be the policy of 
the State to enact measures for promoting health in times of emergencies and 
calamities through the use of information and communication technology. 
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. – For the purposes of this Act, the following 
definitions shall apply: 
(a) Telemedicine - also referred to as telehealth or electronic healthcare, is 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. It likewise includes the education and training of health
personnel to capacitate them to use telemedicine systems as well as the
development of applications and programs for the furtherance of health.
(b) Information and Communications Technology includes but is not limited to:
i.
Digital interactive video, audio, and/or data transmission;
ii.
Video or web-conferencing technology;
iii.
Still image capture or asynchronous store and forward;
iv.
Modern medical devices for patient care and diagnosis.
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SECTION 4. National Telemedicine Council. – A National Telemedicine 
Council, hereinafter referred to as "Council," is hereby established and composed of 
the following: 
a) Secretary of Health, who shall serve as Chairperson; 
b) Secretary of Information and Communication Technology; 
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 
h) Philippine Medical Association, Philippine Nurses Association, and the 
Philippine 
i) Pharmacists Association; and 
j) Director of the Office for Telemedicine. 
 
SECTION 5. Functions of the Council. – The Council, with regard to 
telemedicine in the Philippines, shall: 
(a) Establish guidelines and regulations on the practice and provision of 
services;  
(b) Create a national roadmap for the achievement and furtherance of the 
objectives of this act; 
(c) Establish and provide for a mechanism of accreditation for electronic 
healthcare providers; 
(d) Establish a national integrated database system for medical information; 
(e) Establish a system for electronic prescription of medicine; 
(f) Spearhead and promote research and development activities; 
(g) Capacitate and train existing and new healthcare professionals on the 
provision of health services; and 
(h) Set quality standards for systems, professionals and services. 
 
The Council shall convene as frequently as necessary to perform its mandated 
functions. 
 
SECTION 6. Implementing Agency and Secretariat. - The Department of 
Health shall be the lead agency in implementing this Act. For this purpose, an Office 
for Telemedicine shall be created under the Department which shall serve as the 
Secretariat for the Council. The Office for Telemedicine shall be headed by a Director. 
 
SECTION 7. Establishment of Telemedicine Centers in Rural Local 
Government Units (LGUs). – A Telemedicine Center shall be established in Rural  
LGUs which shall be located and established  in  convenient locations to deliver 
community-based health care services. 
 
SECTION 8. Practice of Medicine. – The provision of Telemedicine services 
shall be limited only to registered physicians. Telemedicine services shall be deemed 
as acts constituting practice of medicine, and shall result to the establishment of a 
doctor-patient relationship. 
 


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