Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.,  
HON. MIGUEL LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE, HON. TSUYOSHI ANTHONY G. 
HORIBATA AND HON. NICOLAS ENCISO VIII 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Inadequate bed capacities, inequitable distribution of health facilities, and 
deficient work force are some of the major problems that our health care system faces 
today. According to a report from the Department of Health, the country has 105,000 
hospital beds with a bed density similar to the poorest countries in the world (1.2 per 
1,000 population). These tribulations were made evident as the country remains to 
face the horrors of the COVID-19 pandemic. 
Moreover, as the “new normal” continues to limit physical mobility and face-to-
face transactions, the use of information and communications technology (ICT) has 
become more apparent, and e-Health became a significant health delivery method. In 
fact, the main benefits of telemedicine were its role in infection control during the 
pandemic, convenience, and accessibility. Other reported perceived benefits of 
telemedicine include cost-effectiveness or decreased patient expenses and time 
efficiency allowing more patients to be managed and served at the same time.1 The 
need for an up-to-date and easy-to-access health care system is without a doubt 
indispensable during these days. It is high time that we become aggressive in taking 
advantage of the benefits of modern ICT. 
This bill will recognize e-Health Service as an equal healthcare delivery method 
from our traditional face to face consultations. It will guarantee quality of service, and 
at the same time ensure patient safety and protection. This bill aims to regulate the 
practice of telemedicine and e-Health, set the standards of practice and implement a 
mechanism for individuals and entities providing e-Health services. This bill seeks to 
establish an ICT-enabled and integrated Philippine healthcare system delivering 
quality health outcomes for all Filipinos.  
1 Cruz-Lim, E.M. et al. (2021). Physicians’ perceptions on the role of telemedicine in cancer care 
during and post-COVID-19 pandemic. Acta Medica Philippina, 5(2), 264-270. Retrieved July 11, 2022, 
from https://actamedicaphilippina.upm.edu.ph/index.php/acta/article/download/2836/2308/ 
July 11, 2022
5:18 pm
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In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of the bill is earnestly sought. 
LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
 MIGUEL LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE 
TSUYOSHI ANTHONY G. HORIBATA 
NICOLAS ENCISO VIII 


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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.,  
HON. MIGUEL LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE, HON. TSUYOSHI ANTHONY G. 
HORIBATA AND HON. NICOLAS ENCISO VIII 
AN ACT  
ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE E-HEALTH SYSTEM AND SERVICES IN 
SUPPORT OF UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS 
THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
ARTICLE I 
GENERAL PROVISIONS 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “E-Health System and 
Services Act”. 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policies. – It is the policy of the State to protect and promote 
the right to health of all Filipinos and instill health consciousness among them. 
Towards this end, the State shall institutionalize a system of providing wide access to 
quality health information and services using information and communication 
technology (ICT), referred to as the National e-health System (NHES, resulting in 
better health outcomes for every Filipino, and further recognizing whole-of society and 
whole-of government approaches.  
The NEHS shall be comprehensive, Integrated, interoperable, progressive, 
secure and sustainable based on best current and future practices, and shall facilitate 
inter-agency and inter-sectoral coordination at various levels of governance covering 
both the public and private sectors. It shall recognize e-Health as supplemental and 
complementary with other healthcare delivery methods to the extent allowable by 
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existing laws, provide and support healthcare delivery, including diagnosis, 
consultation, treatment, transfer of care of patient, exchange of health data and 
education, especially in medically unserved and underserved geographically isolated 
and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs). 
 
SEC. 3. Objectives. – This Act shall provide a holistic framework that establishes a 
NEHS, which shall: 
a) 
Set policies, standards, priorities, plans, programs and project that 
promote and ensure streamlined and safely regulated delivery of e-Health 
services to reduce inequalities, achieve universal health care and better health 
outcomes; 
b) 
Clarify roles of agencies, institutions and entities regarding their 
performance and accountabilities in building national and local e-Health capacity 
and measuring results; and 
c) 
Enable the citizenry with suitable access to their own health Information 
needed for better management and control of their own health. 
 
SEC. 4. Definition of Terms. – As used in this Act: 
a) 
Compliant e-health Services and Applications refer to solutions, 
products and innovations that are compliant with defined architecture of e-Health 
standards that enable services and systems, allow for interoperability of health 
services and information across geographic, organizational, network and vendor 
boundaries, and ensure data protection in accordance with Republic Act (R.A.) 
No. 10173, otherwise known as the "Data Privacy Act" and other related laws 
and issuances. 
b) 
e-Health Data Services refer to key architectural data registries of the 
health sector enterprise needed to enable and support large scale health 
information interoperability and exchange. 
c) 
e-Health System refers to the interplay of enabling (governance and 
accountability; strategy and Investment; human resources; standards and 
interoperability; monitoring and compliance; research and development) and 
foundational (infrastructure; and services and applications) elements essential 
for a successful national e-Health implementation; 


 
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d) 
Electronic Health or e-Health refers to the use of cost-effective and 
secure Information communications technology for health, also referred to as 
digital health; 
e) 
Electronic Health Record (EHR) refers to a computerized health record 
used to capture, store, access and share information of a patient between and 
across health care providers and health-related entitles; 
f) 
Electronic Medical Record (EMR) refers to a computerized medical 
record used to capture, store and share information of a patient between 
healthcare providers in an institution or organization; 
g) 
Electronic Prescription (e-Prescription) refers to a system that allows 
healthcare providers to write and send prescriptions in an automated or 
electronic way to a pharmacy with capability to receive such; 
h) 
Health Passport refers to the portable personal health record of a patient 
linked to the electronic health or medical record whereby exercise control. 
i) 
Health Sector Enterprise Architectures refers to the blueprint on which 
e-Health services and applications shall be developed, implemented and scaled 
up. 
j) 
Information and Communications Technology refers to all technologies 
for the communication of information, which includes data, application or 
information systems, internet, network, connectivity, telecommunications, among 
others; 
 
SEC. 5 Scope and Application. – This Act covers all existing healthcare providers 
and other entities developing and using health systems, services and applications and 
tools, whether public or private. It shall cover all e-Health solutions, services and 
applications including relevant standard equipment in the field of health and ancillary 
services that use ICT and are complementary to existing minimum modalities or 
standards of health care and other means of access to information. 
 
SEC. 6. Implementing Agency. – The Department of Health (DOH) shall be the lead 
implementing agency to carry out the provisions of this Act. The DOH shall strengthen 
and transform its existing Knowledge Management and Information Technology 
Service (KMITS) into a full-fledged Bureau, to be named as the National E-health 
Information and Service Bureau (NeHISB), which shall perform the overall 


 
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management and administration of this Act. Corresponding plantilla positions shall be 
created for this purpose in coordination with the Department of Budget and 
Management. 
The Bureau shall also serve as the secretariat of the e-Health Policy and 
Coordination Council created  
under Section 8 hereof. 
 
SEC. 7. Regional and Local Implementation Structures and Staffing Pattern. – 
To assist in the implementation of this Act and subject to the approval of the 
Department of Budget and Management, the DOH, in consultation with Philippine 
Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), Department of Information and 
Communications Technology (DICT), and Department of Science and Technology 
(DOST) shall determine the regional and local Implementation structures and create 
divisions or as it may deem necessary, and shall appoint officers and employees with 
permanent appointments and supported with an adequate yearly budget in 
accordance with the civil service law, rules, and regulations. 
Setting up of the regional and local implementation structures shall support the 
organization and integration of local health systems into province-wide and city-wide 
health system in accordance with R.A. No. 11223, otherwise known as the "Universal 
Health Care Act" and other related issuances. 
 
ARTICLE II 
GOVERNANCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY 
SEC. 8. Creation of the e-Health Policy and Coordination Council. – There shall 
be created an independent body to be known as the e-Health Policy and Coordination 
Council (eHPCC), hereinafter referred as the "Council", to provide and promote 
relevant policies and guidelines for the effective coordination and Implementation of 
this Act. The Council shall be composed of the following key officials: 
a) 
Secretary, Department of Health — Chairperson; 
b) 
Secretary, Department of Information and Communications Technology — 
Co-Chairperson; 
c) 
President and Chief Executive Officer, Philippine Health Insurance 
Corporation — Co-Chairperson Members; 
d) 
Secretary, Department of Science and Technology; 


 
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e) 
Secretary, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD); 
f) 
Secretary, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG); 
g) 
Secretary, Department of Budget and Management (DBM); 
h) 
Chancellor, University of the Philippines — Manila (UPM); 
i) 
Chairman, Professional Regulation Commission (PRC); 
j) 
Chairperson, Commission on Higher Education (CHED); 
k) 
Chairperson, National Privacy' Commission (NPC); 
l) 
National Statistician, Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA); 
m) 
One (1) representative from the Philippine Hospital Association (PHA); 
n) 
One (1) representative from the Private Hospital Association of the 
Philippines (PHAPI); 
o) 
One (1) representative from the Provincial Health Officers Association of 
the Philippines (PHOAP); 
p) 
One (1) representative from the Association of Municipal Health Officers of 
the Philippines (AMHOP); 
q) 
Two (2) representatives from professional medical or health societies; 
r) 
One (1) representative from patient’s group; and 
s) 
One (1) representative from the ICT industry associations. 
 
The heads of government agencies may be represented by an official whose 
rank shall not be lower than an Assistant Secretary or its equivalent. Members 
representing the private sector shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines 
not later than thirty (30) days after the date of enactment of this Act and shall serve for 
a term of three (3) years, renewable upon recommendation of the Council for a 
maximum of two (2) consecutive terms. 
The government agency-members of the Council shall have the authority to act 
upon and decide on all urgent matters pending the formation of the Council and the 
appointment of members from the private sector by the President of the Philippines. 
 
SEC. 9. Powers and Duties of the Council. – The Council shall exercise the following 
powers and functions: 
a) 
Define and promote overall e-Health policies, standards and regulations at 
all levels of healthcare system, public and private; 


 
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b) 
Ensure integration and coordination of national and local e-health strategies 
and initiative; and 
c) 
Submit yearly assessments and accomplishment reports to the Senate 
Committee on Health and Demography and the House of Representatives 
Committee on Health for performance monitoring and evaluation. 
  
SEC. 10. Creation of the Sub-Structure or Mechanism. – The Council shall create 
multi-sectoral groups, composed of both the private and public sectors to ensure 
broader stakeholder participation and for the furtherance of its objectives. 
Setting up of the sub-structures or mechanisms shall be in accordance with 
R.A. No.11223, otherwise known as the "Universal Health Care Act" and other related 
issuances. 
 
ARTICLE III 
STANDARDS AND INTEROPERABILITY 
 
SEC. 11. Health Sector Enterprise Architecture. – The NeHS shall be operated 
within a health sector enterprise architecture that aligns and ensures that health and 
health-related data are made available and accessible anytime and anywhere to 
various stakeholders, business processes for health are streamlined and Integrated, 
and services and applications are usable, safe, efficient and effective, following the 
health care business model provided under R.A. No. 11223, otherwise known as the 
"Universal Health Care Act" and other related Issuances. 
Rationalization for safety and cost effectiveness, scope and standards for 
design and use of technologies in the health sector shall also be defined in this 
architecture. All health cate providers and health-related entities shall adopt a health 
enterprise architecture as defined and guided by the Council. 
 
SEC. 12. Standards Compliance. – All health care providers and health-related 
entities shall comply with the data standards to allow interoperability and health 
information exchange, and ensure data protection in accordance with R.A. No. 10173, 
otherwise known as the "Data Privacy Act" and other related laws and issuances. 
 


 
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These standards shall Include, inter alia, patient identifier, health care provider 
identifiers, terminology and messaging standards, and shall be in accordance with the 
Philippine e-Government interoperability framework security and other relevant 
standards. 
 
ARTICLE IV 
SERVICES AND APPLICATIONS 
SEC. 13. Rationalization of e-health Services and Applications. – Design, 
development, and Implementation of e-health services and applications shall focus on 
the automation and interoperability of the various mandatory business processes and 
data services in the health sector as laid out in the Health Sector Enterprise 
Architecture and which may be subjected to health technology assessment and shall 
comply with regulatory requirements. 
 
SEC. 14. Scope of e-Health Services and Applications. – E-health shall include the 
following areas: 
a) Mandatory e-Health Data Services: 
1) 
Master Person Index 
2) 
Master Provider (Human Resources) Index 
3) 
Master Facility Index 
4) 
Terminology or Health Services Registry 
5) 
National Immunization Registry 
 
b) Compliant eHealth Services and Applications, including but not limited to: 
1) 
Electronic Health Record/Electronic Medical Record 
2) 
Health Passport 
3) 
Health Information Exchange 
4) 
Health Facility Operations and Management 
5) 
Disease Registries 
6) 
TeleHealth/TeleMedicine and mHealth 
7) 
Human Resources in e-health 
8) 
Supply Chain Management/Enterprise Resource Planning 
 
 


 
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Article V 
TELEHEALTH 
SEC. 15. Regulations of TeleHealth Services and e-health Related Devices. – The 
Council, through the DOH, shall establish and maintain a regulatory system for 
telehealth services and e-health-related devices. 
 
SEC. 16. Standards of Practice and Certification of Individuals and Entities 
Providing TeleHealth Services. – To complement the regulations of telehealth 
services and e-Health-related devices, the Professional Regulation Commission and 
DOH, in consultation with, PhilHealth, UPM—National TeleHealth Center, DICT, 
academia, medical and specialty societies, non-government organizations, the private 
and business sectors, shall set the standards of practice and implement a certification 
mechanism for health care providers and health-related entities providing telehealth 
services. 
 
ARTICLE VI 
HUMAN RESOURCES 
SEC. 17. Human Resource in E-Health. – The human resource for e-Health are 
health care professionals who shall plan, design, build, operate, use, maintain and 
support the e-Health services and applications. 
The DOH, PRC, CHED, DICT, and Technical Education and Skills 
Development Authority (TESDA), in consultation with medical and specialty societies, 
IT professional associations, and academia, shall establish the minimum 
competencies and impose the same on health, health-related and digital health 
professionals. This shall be part of the curriculum of health and health-related course 
 
SEC. 18. Human Resource for e-health Development Plan. – The DOH, PRC, 
CHED, and TESDA shall formulate the Human Resource for eHealth Development 
Plan which shall develop new curricula, integrate changes in existing curricula, create 
formal and non-formal training programs, and continuing professional development 
programs concerning the practice of e-Health. There shall also be creation of 
personnel services item, plantilla positions, and other employment opportunities for 
human resource in government hospitals and institutions to manage and enable e-
Health in healthcare and related services. 


 
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ARTICLE VII 
INFRASTRUCTURES 
SEC. 19. ICT Infrastructure. – DICT, in coordination with DOH, PhilHealth, and 
DOST, shall establish and maintain the necessary national ICT infrastructure to 
implement e-health services and applications. 
 
SEC. 20. National Health Data Center. –  The PhilHealth, in coordination with the 
DOH, DICT and DOST, shall establish and maintain the national e-health data center, 
and implement an agile and sustainable data management and governance 
framework and system in support to R.A. No. 11223, otherwise known as the 
"Universal Health Care Act," and in compliance with R.A. No. 10173, otherwise known 
as the "Data Privacy Act of 2012" for data protection. 
 
ARTICLE VIII 
STRATEGY AND INVESTMENT 
SEC. 21. National e-Health Strategic Framework and Plan. – The Council shall 
spearhead the development and monitoring of strategic framework and plan to serve 
and guide the operations of a national e-Health system. 
 
SEC. 22. Financing the e-Health Strategic Framework and Plan. – Financing for 
the national e-Health system by DOH, PhilHealth and other partners, as defined by 
the Council, shall be made available to scale up e-Health implementation at the 
national level. 
 
SEC. 23. Private Sector Participation. – The DOH shall promulgate rules regarding 
the participation of the private sector in the provision of e-Health services, 
 
ARTICLE XI 
ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTIES 
SEC. 27. Rules and Procedures for Administrative Violations and Complaints. – 
The Council shall promulgate rule and procedures relating to administrative violations 
and complaints, insofar as they relate to the establishment and operations of the 
national e-Health system. 


 
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ARTICLES XII 
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS 
SEC. 28. Transitory Provisions. – The transformation of KMITS into a full-fledged 
Bureau and the formulation of the Internal organic structure and regional and local 
implementation structures, staffing pattern, operating system, and the revised budget 
of the Department for health information technology shall be completed within six (6) 
months from the effectivity of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of this 
Act, during which time, the existing KMIIS and regional and local Implementation 
personnel shall continue to serve in holdover capacities until a full and permanent 
Bureau is constituted and functioning, and new appointments are issued. 
 
SEC. 29. Appropriations. – The amount needed for the initial implementation of this 
Act shall be taken from the current fiscal year's appropriation of the DOH for health 
information technology. 
For the succeeding years, the amount needed for e-Health in the DOH budget 
and in the budget of other agencies with specific mandates provided in this Act shall 
be based on the strategic plan formulated by the Council, In coordination with other 
stakeholders. The amount shall be included in the National Expenditure Program 
(NEB) as basis for the General Appropriations Bill (GAB). 
Further, other sources of funds can come from the Private Sector Participation 
Program, Joint DOH-PhilHealth-DICT-DOST undertakings on e-Health, and Medium-
Term Information and Communications Technology Harmonization Initiative (MITHI). 
 
SEC. 30. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within one hundred ninety days 
(90) days from the effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of DOH, after consultation with 
the Secretaries of DICT and DOST, the President and Chief Executive Office of 
PhilHealth, the Chancellor of UPM, the Chairman of the Professional Regulation 
Commission, the Chairperson of CHED, the National Statistician of PSA, and 
representatives of medical and paramedical associations and societies, and other 
stakeholders, shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations implementing the 
provisions of this Act. 
 


 
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SEC.31. Separability Clause. – If any part or provision of this Act is held Invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not affected shall remain in full force 
and effect. 
 
SEC.32. Repealing Clause. – All general and special laws, decrees, executive orders, 
proclamations and administrative regulation, or any parts thereof which are 
inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, amended and modified accordingly. 
 
SEC. 33. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication 
in the Official Gazette or in any newspaper of general circulation.   
 
Approved,