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Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
Twentieth Congress 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 2984 
Introduced by Representatives Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, Yedda 
Marie K. Romualdez, Andrew Julian K. Romualdez and Jude A. Acidre 
AN ACT 
EXPANDING THE SCOPE OF MEDICAL PRACTICE THROUGH 
PROVIDING 
GUIDELINES 
FOR 
TELEMEDICINE 
SERVICES, 
AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 2382, OR THE MEDICAL ACT OF 1959, 
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The COVID-19 pandemic exposed significant gaps in the country’s healthcare 
system, highlighting the critical shortage of physicians and healthcare workers, 
especially in remote and underserved areas. Coupled with rapid advancements in 
information and communication technology, these challenges present an opportunity 
to transform healthcare delivery through telemedicine. 
This bill aims to institutionalize and regulate telemedicine, ensuring that 
quality healthcare becomes more accessible, efficient, and equitable for all, 
particularly for those in far-flung communities. By enabling remote consultations 
and access to medical services, telemedicine can bridge geographic barriers and 
extend essential health services to Filipinos regardless of their location.  
In order to strengthen the healthcare system and fulfill the State’s mandate to 
promote the right to health and provide comprehensive and affordable health 
August 4, 2025
5:00 pm


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services to the Filipino people, healthcare delivery must evolve to meet current 
realities. This includes embracing telemedicine as a viable, technology-driven 
solution to improve access to medical services, especially in geographically isolated 
and disadvantaged areas. 
This measure was also filed during the 19th Congress and was primarily 
referred to the Civil Service and Professional Regulation. 
In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
FERDINAND MARTIN G. ROMUALDEZ 
YEDDA MARIE K. ROMUALDEZ 
ANDREW JULIAN K.  ROMUALDEZ 
JUDE A. ACIDRE 


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Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
Twentieth Congress 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 2984 
Introduced by Representatives Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, Yedda 
Marie K. Romualdez, Andrew Julian K. Romualdez and Jude A. Acidre 
AN ACT 
EXPANDING THE SCOPE OF MEDICAL PRACTICE THROUGH 
PROVIDING 
GUIDELINES 
FOR 
TELEMEDICINE 
SERVICES, 
AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 2382, OR THE MEDICAL ACT OF 1959, 
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
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 recognizes the right of the Filipino people 
to health, including access to health services, especially in times of a pandemic, 
where the new normal sets to maintain the state of physical distancing and the 


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public’s limitation to travel and movement. It is high time, therefore, to introduce, 
and at the same time regulate, the practice of telemedicine in the Philippines. It is 
the intent of the legislature to recognize the practice of telemedicine as a legitimate 
means by which a patient may receive medical services from a licensed physician 
without physical contact. 
 
SEC. 3. Objectives. This Act provides for and shall govern the:  
 
(a) Provision of access to health services in medically underserved rural and 
urban areas;  
 
(b) Standardization, upgrading, and maintenance of the distinct domain of 
telemedicine;  
 
(c) Supervision and regulation of the practice and operations of telemedicine; and 
 
(d) Upholding of competence, values, and profession ethics of physicians who 
will engage with the telemedicine practice. 
 
SEC.4. Definition of Terms. As used in this act, the following terms shall mean: 
 
(a) Practice of Medicine refers to acts constituting practice of medicine. A person 
shall be considered as engaged in the practice of medicine when he or she (a) 
shall, for compensation, fee, salary or reward in any form paid to him directly 
or through another, or even without the same, physically or remotely examine 
any person, and diagnose, treat, operate, or prescribe any remedy for human 


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disease, injury, deformity, physical, mental or psychical condition, or any 
ailment, real or imaginary, regardless of the nature of the remedy or treatment 
administered, prescribed or recommended; or (b) shall by means of signs, 
cards, advertisements, written or printed matter, or through the radio and 
television, either offer or undertake by any means or method to diagnose, treat, 
operate, or prescribe any remedy for any human disease, injury, deformity, 
mental or physical condition; or, (c) shall falsely use the title of M.D. after his 
name; 
 
(b) Telemedicine, as defined by the World Medical Association, refers to the 
practice of medicine over a distance, in which interventions, diagnostics, and 
treatment decisions and recommendations are based on data, documents, and 
other information transmitted through telecommunication systems; 
 
(c) Physician refers to a professional duly-licensed to practice medicine, or 
otherwise permitted to engage in the practice of medicine by the Medical Act 
of 1959; 
 
(d) Patient refers to any person receiving medical treatment;  
 
(e) Domain refers to a specified field of knowledge or activity; and 
 
(f) Telecommunication systems refer to a collection of nodes and links, including 
devices and technology used, to enable telecommunication. 
 
 


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SEC. 5. Applicability. This law shall apply to all physicians or persons engaged in 
the industry of telemedicine, including hospitals and establishments which offer 
telemedicine to its patients through its physicians. 
 
SEC. 6. Enforcement. The Department of Health (DOH) shall regulate and 
supervise the telemedicine practice in the Philippines and shall be permitted to create 
an attached agency intended for this purpose. 
 
SEC. 7. Persons allowed to Diagnose through Telemedicine. Only licensed 
physicians or those licensed by the Professional Regulatory Board of Medicine are 
allowed to diagnose and provide physician consultation services through 
telecommunication systems. 
 
SEC. 8. Privacy and Consent of Patients. The following general conditions shall be 
observed and complied with by the parties to telemedicine service: 
 
(a) Prior to the rendering of health services through telemedicine, the physician 
who has the authority over the primary diagnosis shall obtain written informed 
consent duly signed by the patient. The consent procedure shall ensure that 
the following information is given and explained to the patient: 
 
(1) The individual retains the option to withhold or withdraw consent, at 
any time, without affecting the right to access to care or treatment which 
the individual would otherwise be entitled; 
 


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(2) A clear explanation of the potential risks, consequences, and benefits of 
telemedicine; 
 
(3) All existing laws and stipulations on confidentiality shall apply; 
 
(4) The patient shall have access to all medical information transmitted 
during a telemedicine consultation, and copies of this information shall 
be made available to the patient; 
 
(5) Dissemination of any patient’s identifiable images or information from 
the telemedicine consultation to other third parties shall not be made 
without the consent of the patient; and 
 
(6) The patient understands the written information provided pursuant to 
subdivision and that this information has been discussed with the 
physician, or his or her representative or assignee. 
 
(b) The written consent statement signed by the patient shall become part of the 
patient’s medical record; 
 
(c) The failure of the physician to comply with this section shall be penalized 
under this Act; 
 
(d) Where the patient is a minor or is incapacitated or incompetent, such that he 
or she is unable to give informed consent, the patient’s legal guardian shall 
sign in behalf of the patient; 


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(e) The physician or persons engaged in telemedicine, including hospitals or 
establishments which offer this service through its licensed physicians, shall 
have the obligations of a data controller under the Data Privacy Act of 2012; 
 
(f) The patient shall have all the rights of a data subject under the Data Privacy 
Act of 2012; and 
 
(g) This section does not apply in an emergency situation in which a patient is 
unable to give informed consent and the representative of that patient is not 
available. 
 
SEC. 9. Establishment of physician-patient relationship. Upon compliance to the 
preceding 
paragraph, 
the 
physician 
and 
patient 
interacting 
through 
telecommunication services, for purposes of telemedicine practice, shall be 
considered to have established a physician-patient relationship, and all pertinent 
laws governing and related to the said relationship shall likewise apply. 
 
SEC. 10. Compliance required. Hospitals, establishments, or persons allowed under 
this Act, to offer the delivery of medical services through telecommunication 
systems, or otherwise regarded as telemedicine practice, shall meet the following 
requirements: 
 
(a) All persons and facilities including but not limited to clinics, hospitals, and 
medical establishments, which will undertake telemedicine practice shall be 
registered with the DOH as facilities rendering telemedicine; 


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(b) All personnel employed by, whether regular or contractual, the above-stated 
facilities, intended to handle all the data and telecommunication systems 
under this Act shall be licensed or certified by their respective board or agency, 
where licensure is required by law; 
 
(c) All equipment and telecommunication systems intended to be used in carrying 
out telemedicine shall be duly declared upon registration with the DOH and 
the operating personnel for the equipment or system shall be shall be licensed 
or certified, as required by law; and 
 
(d) All telemedicine services shall be available, at reasonable times, to all persons 
intending to avail such services. To the extent feasible, the facility shall make 
all services accessible to all. 
 
SEC. 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations. Within ninety (90) days after the 
approval of this Act, the DOH, in consultation and coordination with appropriate 
government agencies, representatives from the private sector, and other 
stakeholders, shall promulgate the necessary implementing rules and regulations for 
the effective implementation of this Act. 
 
SEC. 12. Separability Clause. In the event that any provision of this Act or the 
application of such provision to any person or circumstance is declared invalid, the 
remainder of this Act or the application of said provisions to other persons or 
circumstances shall not be affected by such declarations. 
 


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SEC. 13. Repealing Clause. All acts and regulations not consistent with this Act are 
hereby amended or repealed.  
 
SEC. 14. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication 
in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.  
 
Approved,