Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _________ 
Introduced by Representative Paolo Henry M. Marcoleta 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The practice of medicine in the Philippines has long been anchored in 
Republic Act No. 2382 or the Medical Act of 1959 which was clearly called for 
being outdated and in need of immediate reforms to meet with the changing 
times. Under the old law, the practice of medicine is considered under the 
following acts:
“SEC. 10. Acts constituting practice of medicine. – A person 
shall be considered as engaged in the practice of medicine (a ) who 
shall, for compensation, fee, salary or reward in any form, paid to him 
directly or through another, or even without the same, physically 
examine any person, and diagnose, treat, operate or prescribe any 
remedy for any human disease, injury, deformity, physical, mental or 
physical 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, television or any other 
means of communication, either offer or undertake by any means or 
method to, diagnose, treat, operate or prescribe any remedy for any 
human disease, injury, deformity, physical, mental or psychical 
condition; or (c) who shall use the title M.D. after his name.” 
With the advent of recent advancements in technology and medical 
science, it is only right to expand the current definition of the practice of 
medicine to include innovative measures that will promote readily available 
medical access for our people. In fact, under the 1987 Constitution, Article XIII, 
Section 11 states that: “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”. It 
August 5, 2025
11:54 am
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is through this mandate that this proposed bill seeks to expand the scope of 
medical practice by including telemedicine, and further institutionalize its 
access in coordination with various stakeholders in order to address the existing 
gaps in our healthcare system.  
During the COVID 19 pandemic, the importance of telemedicine has been 
greatly highlighted. In 2021, Joint Administrative Order No. 2021-0001, or the 
Guidelines on the Implementation of Telemedicine in the Delivery of 
Individual-Based Health Services, was issued by the Department of Health 
(DOH) together with the Department of Interior and Local Government, and the 
Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth). This order was issued in 
accordance with the rules set forth under Republic Act No. 11223 or the 
Universal Health Care Act.1  
This bill aims to create a comprehensive framework for the practice of 
telemedicine in the country making healthcare accessible to everyone at all 
times, through the creation of the Office for Telemedicine under the DOH as 
well as encouraging the local government units to establish telemedicine centers 
in their respective areas. This measure also serves to strengthen the 
implementation of the current Philhealth Konsulta Benefit Package through its 
eKonsulta program. In addition, this bill shall also incentivize physicians who 
would render free telemedicine services by converting hours rendered into 
continuing professional development units, in order to cater more patients 
especially in medically deprived areas in the country. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate approval of this measure is 
earnestly sought.  
PAOLO HENRY M. MARCOLETA 
Representative, SAGIP Party-List
1 DOH-DILG-PHIC Joint Administrative Order No. 2021-0001 (2021). 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _________ 
Introduced by Representative Paolo Henry M. Marcoleta 
AN ACT 
EXPANDING THE SCOPE OF MEDICAL PRACTICE, AMENDING 
FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 2382 OR THE MEDICAL 
ACT OF 1959, AS AMENDED, AND 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 and referred to as the 
1 
“Telemedicine Act”. 
2 
3 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. –  The State recognizes the right of the 
4 
Filipino to health, including the adoption of an integrated and comprehensive 
5 
approach towards health development that will ensure readily available access to 
6 
health care services that are convenient to all. 
7 
8 
Sec. 3. Objectives. – This Act shall provide and govern the following: 
9 
10 
a.
Provision of access to telemedicine health services throughout the
11 
country, especially in medically underserved rural and urban areas;
12 
b. Standardization, upgrading, safeguarding, and maintenance of the
13 
telemedicine systems in the country;
14 
c.
Supervision and regulation of the practice and operations of
15 
telemedicine;
16 
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d. Coordinate and integrate with the Konsulta benefit package of the 
1 
Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (Philhealth); and 
2 
e. Upholding of competence, values, and professional ethics of physicians 
3 
and personnel engaged in the practice of telemedicine. 
4 
 
5 
 
Sec. 4. Definition of Terms. –  For the purposes of this Act, the following 
6 
definitions shall apply:  
7 
 
8 
a. Electronic Konsulta (eKonsulta) - refers to Philhealth developed stand- 
9 
alone application which may be used by a Konsulta facility as an 
10 
interim electronic reporting system, that can be used for encoding the 
11 
patient’s data/ consultation records to include diagnosis, diagnostic 
12 
tests done with corresponding results and prescribed/dispensed 
13 
medicines;  
14 
b. Information and Communications Technology (ICT) - includes but is 
15 
not limited to:  
16 
i. Digital interactive video, audio, and/or data transmission;  
17 
ii. Video or web-conferencing technology;  
18 
iii. Still image capture or asynchronous store and forward;  
19 
iv. Modern medical devices for patient care and diagnosis.  
20 
c. Physician - refers to a professional duly- licensed to practice medicine 
21 
under RA 2382 or the Medical Act of 1959;  
22 
d. Telemedicine - also referred to as telehealth or electronic healthcare, as 
23 
defined by the World Medical Association to be the practice of 
24 
medicine over a distance, in which delivery of healthcare services 
25 
through the use of ICT and telecommunications systems, as 
26 
complement to traditional healthcare systems. It shall include the total 
27 
management of a patient’s health care from consultation, diagnosis, 
28 
treatment, prescription of medicine, and record keeping. It shall 
29 
likewise include the education and training of health personnel to 
30 
capacitate them in using the Telemedicine system as well as the 
31 
development of applications and programs in furtherance of health;  
32 
e. Telecommunications Systems - refer to a collective nodes and links that 
33 


 
include devices and technology that enable telecommunication. 
1 
 
2 
 
Sec. 5. Practice of Medicine. – Section 10 of Republic Act No. 2382 is 
3 
hereby amended to read as follows: 
4 
 
5 
“SEC. 10. Acts constituting practice of medicine. – A person shall be 
6 
considered as engaged in the practice of medicine [(a ) who shall, for 
7 
compensation, fee, salary or reward in any form, paid to him 
8 
directly or through another, or even without the same, physically 
9 
examine any person, and diagnose, treat, operate or prescribe any 
10 
remedy for any human disease, injury, deformity, physical, mental 
11 
or physical condition or any ailment, real or imaginary, regardless 
12 
of the nature of the remedy or treatment administered, prescribed 
13 
or recommended; or (b ) shall, by means of signs, cards, 
14 
advertisements, written or printed matter, or through the radio, 
15 
television or any other means of communication, either offer or 
16 
undertake by any means or method to, diagnose, treat, operate or 
17 
prescribe any remedy for any human disease, injury, deformity, 
18 
physical, mental or physical condition; or (c) who shall use the title 
19 
M.D. after his name.] through the following acts: 
20 
 
21 
A. HISTORY TAKING AND PHYSICAL EXAMINATION OF 
22 
ANY 
PERSON 
FOR 
DISEASE, 
INJURY, 
AND 
23 
DEFORMITY, FOR THE PURPOSE OF DIAGNOSING, 
24 
TREATING, 
OPERATING, 
PRESCRIBING, 
OR 
25 
DISPENSING ANY REMEDY THEREOF; 
26 
B. HISTORY TAKING AND PHYSICAL EXAMINATION 
27 
THROUGH SUBMISSION OF PHOTOGRAPHS AND 
28 
VIDEOS 
OR 
ANY 
COMMUNICATION 
THROUGH 
29 
TELECOMMUNICATION OR ELECTRONIC MEANS 
30 
FOR 
ANY 
DISEASE, 
INJURY 
AND 
DEFORMITY; 
31 
DIAGNOSING AND PRESCRIBING OR DISPENSING ANY 
32 
REMEDY THEREOF THROUGH ELECTRONIC MEANS 
33 
OR TELEMEDICINE; 
34 
C. HISTORY TAKING AND PHYSICAL EXAMINATION OF 
35 
ANY PERSON’S MENTAL CONDITION FOR ANY 
36 


 
AILMENT, REAL OR IMAGINARY, REGARDLESS OF 
1 
THE NATURE OF THE REMEDY OR TREATMENT 
2 
ADMINISTERED, PRESCRIBED, OR RECOMMENDED; 
3 
D. OFFERING OR UNDERTAKING TO DIAGNOSE, TREAT, 
4 
OPERATE OR PRESCRIBE, AND ADMINISTER ANY 
5 
REMEDY 
FOR 
ANY 
HUMAN 
DISEASE, 
INJURY, 
6 
DEFORMITY, PHYSICAL OR MENTAL CONDITION, 
7 
EITHER PERSONALLY OR BY MEANS OF SIGNS, 
8 
CARDS, OR ADVERTISEMENTS BY WAY OF MASS 
9 
MEDIA OR ANY OTHER MEANS OF COMMUNICATION; 
10 
E. USING OR AFFIXING THE SUFFIX “M.D.” TO THE 
11 
PHYSICIAN’S 
NAME 
IN 
WRITTEN 
OR 
ORAL 
12 
COMMUNICATIONS. 
UNLESS 
SPECIFIED, 
THE 
13 
LETTERS 
“M.D.” 
SHALL 
MEAN 
DOCTOR 
OF 
14 
MEDICINE, PROVIDED THAT ONLY THOSE WHO HAVE 
15 
PASSED THE PHYSICIAN’S LICENSURE EXAMINATION 
16 
AND DULY LICENSED TO PRACTICE THE MEDICAL 
17 
PROFESSION ARE ALLOWED TO USE THE TITLE 
18 
“M.D.”; AND 
19 
F. CONDUCTING 
FORMAL 
MEDICAL 
CLASSES 
IN 
20 
MEDICAL 
SCHOOLS, 
SEMINARS, 
LECTURES, 
21 
SYMPOSIA, AND THE LIKE UNLESS THE SUBJECT 
22 
MATTER BEING TAKEN UP INVOLVES BASIC SCIENCE 
23 
FUNDAMENTALS IN THE FURTHERANCE OF ITS 
24 
APPLICATIONS IN CLINICAL MEDICINE.” 
25 
 
26 
 
Sec. 6. National Telemedicine Council. – A National Telemedicine 
27 
Council, herein referred to as “Council”, is hereby established and composed of 
28 
the following:  
29 
 
30 
a. Secretary of Health, who shall serve as the Chairperson; 
31 
b. Secretary of Information and Communication Technology;  
32 
c. Secretary of the Interior and Local Government;  
33 
d. President of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation; 
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e. Chairperson of the National Privacy Commission; 
1 
f. Director General of the Food and Drug Administration; 
2 
g. Presidents of healthcare professional associations; and 
3 
h. Director of the Office for Telemedicine. 
4 
 
5 
 
Sec. 7. Functions of the Council. – The Council, with regard to the 
6 
Telemedicine in the Philippines, shall: 
7 
 
8 
a. Establish guidelines and regulations on the practice and provision of 
9 
services; 
10 
b. Create a national roadmap for the achievement and furtherance of the 
11 
objectives of this Act; 
12 
c. Establish and provide for a mechanism of accreditation for electronic 
13 
healthcare providers; 
14 
d. Establish a national integrated database system for medical 
15 
information; 
16 
e. Establish a system for electronic prescription of medicine equipped 
17 
with safeguards for safety and against fraud; 
18 
f. Coordinate with the Philhealth in order to strengthen the 
19 
implementation of its Konsulta benefit package; 
20 
g. Spearhead and promote research and development activities; 
21 
h. Capacitate and train existing and new healthcare professional on the 
22 
provision of telehealth services; 
23 
i. Set quality standards for the system, professionals, and services in 
24 
compliance with the globally recognized standard of care. 
25 
 
26 
The Council shall convene as frequently as necessary to perform its 
27 
mandated functions. 
28 
 
29 
 
Sec. 8. Office of Telemedicine. – The Department of Health (DOH) shall 
30 
be the lead agency in implementing this Act. For this purpose, an Office for 
31 
Telemedicine shall be created under the DOH, which shall serve as the Secretariat 
32 


 
for the Council, to be headed by a Director. 
1 
 
2 
 
There shall be a national hotline and online portal to be created that is 
3 
readily available to facilitate Telemedicine consults, scheduling, or referrals.  
4 
 
5 
 
Sec. 9. Applicability. – Only the duly-licensed Physicians with updated 
6 
Professional Regulation Commission registration are allowed to practice 
7 
Telemedicine. Only out-patient cases or non-emergency cases shall be catered in 
8 
Telemedicine consults, to include but not limited to re-issuance of outdated 
9 
medical prescriptions, issuance of medical certificates and fit to work clearances, 
10 
requests for laboratory and diagnostic procedures, among others. 
11 
 
12 
 
The Council shall establish special rules and systems for the enhanced 
13 
utilization of Telemedicine during times of emergencies and calamities.  
14 
 
15 
 
Sec. 10. Enforcement. – The DOH shall regulate and supervise the 
16 
Telemedicine practice in the country, including the fees imposed, if any, or via 
17 
the PhilHealth’s eKonsulta program. 
18 
 
19 
 
Sec. 11. Privacy and Consent of Patients. – All medical records generated, 
20 
including records maintained via video, audio, electronic, or other means 
21 
acquired through Telemedicine, must conform to all laws regarding 
22 
confidentiality of healthcare information of the patient, basic rights of the patient, 
23 
and record keeping requirements in compliance with the Republic Act No. 10173 
24 
or the Data Privacy Act of 2012. Any violation shall be penalized in accordance 
25 
with existing laws. 
26 
 
27 
 
Sec. 12. Standard of Care. – The standard of care given in Telemedicine 
28 
must be the same as that required in traditional or non- Telemedicine healthcare 
29 
services. 
30 
 
31 
 
There shall be an official identifiable code in every Telemedicine 
32 
transaction, especially, in prescriptions and medical certificates issued through 
33 
Telemedicine consults, in order to safeguard false or fraudulent prescriptions and 
34 
medical certificates. 
35 
 
36 
 
Sec. 13. Establishment of Telemedicine Centers in Local Government Units 
37 


 
(LGUs). – All LGUs, especially in rural areas, are encouraged to establish a 
1 
Telemedicine center in every barangay, to provide access to their constituents 
2 
especially those lacking capacities to use such platforms; and to render assistance 
3 
in facilitating the Telemedicine consult. 
4 
 
5 
 
The local Telemedicine centers shall coordinate with the Office of 
6 
Telemedicine under the DOH, in order to facilitate an effective system of 
7 
teleconsultation, and sourcing medicines for prescribed medications from 
8 
barangay health centers or DOH accredited pharmacies. 
9 
 
10 
 
Sec. 14. Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Units. – In order to 
11 
encourage Physicians to render Telemedicine services in rural and medically 
12 
underserved areas of the country, the Council shall formulate the corresponding 
13 
point system for every hour of free Telemedicine service rendered, that can be 
14 
converted into CPD units, in coordination with the Medical CPD Council. 
15 
 
16 
 
Sec. 15. Implementing Rules and Regulation. – Within ninety (90) days 
17 
from the effectivity of this Act, the DOH, in consultation with the Council and 
18 
other stakeholders, shall promulgate the rules and regulations to effectively 
19 
implement the provisions of this Act. 
20 
 
21 
 
Sec. 16. Appropriations. – The amount necessary for the initial 
22 
implementation of this Act shall be taken from the current appropriations of the 
23 
DOH and PhilHealth. Thereafter, the amount needed for the continued 
24 
implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual appropriations of the 
25 
DOH, as a distinct and separate item, and part of PhilHealth’s allocation of funds. 
26 
 
27 
 
Sec. 17. Separability Clause. – If any provision or part of this Act is 
28 
declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder thereof not otherwise affected 
29 
shall remain in full force and effect. 
30 
 
31 
 
Sec. 18. Repealing Clause. – All laws, presidential decrees, executive 
32 
orders, letters of instructions, proclamations or administrative regulations that are 
33 
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended, or 
34 
modified accordingly. 
35 
 
36 
 
Sec. 19. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following 
37 


 
its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
1 
 
2 
 
Approved,  
3