Republic of the Phil
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 16 2

Introduced by: HON. VINCENZO RENATO LUIGI VILLAFUERTE

EXPLANATORY NOTE

‘The right to health is a fundamental human right enshrined in the 1987 Philippine Constitution
(Article Il, Section 15) and further reinforced by the Universal Health Care Act (Republic Act No.
11223). To effectively promote and protect this right, itis imperative that the healthcare system evolve
towards greater efficiency, accessibility, and continuity of care.

‘The current fragmented medical records system in the Philippines hampers timely access to
accurate patient information, leading to inefficiencies, medical errors, and delays in treatment. This gap
disproportionately affects Filipinos in underserved and rural areas, limiting equitable healthcare access.

‘The Department of Health (DOH), pursuant to its mandate under Republic Act No. 11223 and
in coordination with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), has long
advocated for the establishment of a unified Electronic Health Record (EHR) system. Such a system
aligns with the National eHealth Strategy, which aims to leverage digital technologies for improved
health outcomes and universal health coverage.

‘The proposed “One Patient — One Health Record Act of 2025” seeks to institutionalize a
National Electronic Health Record System (NEHRS) that assigns every Filipino a unique Digital Health
ID linked to their comprehensive medical history. This will facilitate secure and interoperable data
sharing among authorized health providers, reduce redundancies in medical testing, and ensure
continuity of care especially critical during emergencies.

Further, by integrating with existing government systems such as PhilHealth and the PhilSys
National ID, this Act supports streamlined health service delivery and efficient national health planning.
It also safeguards patient privacy and data security in strict compliance with the Data Privacy Act of
2012 (Republic Act No. 10173) and involves capacity-building programs to equip health workers and
the public with the necessary digital health literacy.

In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought to modernize
our healthcare system, uphold the constitutional right to health, and bring about universal, accessible,
and quality health services for every Filipino.

——

HON. VINCENZO RENATO LUIGI VILLAFUERTE
District 2, Camarines Sur



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 162

Introduced by: HON. VINCENZO RENATO LUIGI VILLAFUERTE

AN ACT ESTABLISHING A NATIONAL ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORD
SYSTEM TO ENSURE CONTINUITY OF CARE, IMPROVE MEDICAL
EFFICIENCY, AND PROMOTE UNIVERSAL HEALTH ACCESS FOR ALL
FILIPINOS

Section 1. This Act shall be known as the “One Patient — One Health Record Act of 2025.”

Section 2. It is the policy of the State to protect and promote the right to health of every
Filipino. To this end, the government shall institutionalize a secure, interoperable, and
universally accessible Electronic Health Record (EHR) system that ensures efficient, seamless,
and continuous healthcare services nationwide.

Section 3. This Act seeks to:
a. Create a National Electronic Health Record System (NEHRS) for all citizens;
b. Assign every Filipino a unique digital health ID linked to their medical history;
c. Facilitate data sharing among authorized healthcare providers;
d. Enhance healthcare delivery, reduce redundancy, and save lives during emergencies;
¢. Support public health monitoring, disease surveillance, and national health planning.

Section 4. The Department of Health (DOH), in coordination with the Department of
Information and Communications Technology (DICT), shall develop and implement the
NEHRS.

The system shall include:

a. Individual patient profiles including medical history, lab results, prescriptions,
allergies, and immunizations;

b. Access protocols for public and private health facilities, governed by data privacy and
patient consent;

c. Offline access mechanisms for rural and underserved areas;

d. Integration with PhilHealth, Universal Health Care databases, and local government
unit (LGU) health systems.

Section 5. Every Filipino shall be assigned a Digital Health ID, which shall be:


a. Linked to their PhilSys (National ID) number or issued separately if unavailable;
b. Usable across all public hospitals, RHUs, and licensed private facilities;
c. Securely stored with biometric or multi-factor authentication features for access.

Section 6. The following shall be required to adopt the NEHRS within two (2) years:
a. All DOH-tetained hospitals and provincial hospitals;
b. All public rural health units (RHUs), barangay health stations, and city health offices;
c. All state universities and colleges (SUCs) offering medical and health courses;
d. Private hospitals and clinics may participate voluntarily within the first year and shall
be mandated to adopt the system by the third year, with incentives provided for early
adoption.

Section 7. Strict compliance with the Data Privacy Act of 2012 (RA 10173) shall be enforced.
a. Patients must provide informed consent for access to their records.
b. All data shall be encrypted and stored in secure, government-certified cloud or on-
premise systems.
c. Penalties shall be imposed for unauthorized access, misuse, or data breaches.

Section 8. The necessary funds for the operation, maintenance, upgrades, and capacity building
of the National Electronic Health Record System (NEHRS) shall be appropriated annually
under the General Appropriations Act (GAA).

Section 9. Within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act, the DOH, in coordination
with the DICT, PhilHealth, and the National Privacy Commission, shall promulgate the
Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR).

Section 10. If any provision or part of this Act is declared unconstitutional, the remaining parts
or provisions not affected shall remain in full force and effect.

Section 11. All laws, executive orders, issuances, and rules and regulations inconsistent with
this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Section 12. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official
Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,