EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
S.B. No. 1773
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Introduced by Senator Richard 3. Gordon
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE ONE PATIENT- ONE ELECTRONIC MEDICAL RECORD 
SYSTEM IN THE PHILIPPINES THEREBY CREATING THE OFFICE OF THE 
NATIONAL COORDINATOR FOR HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Article II, Section 15 of the 1987 Constitution provides that "the State shall 
protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness 
among them." The Constitution likewise mandates under Article XIII, Section 11 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..."
In furtherance of the aforesaid constitutional mandate, this bill pushes for the 
development of the health system in the Philippines by institutionalizing the One 
Patient- One Electronic Medical Record System. One Patient-One Electronic Medical 
Record System provides that each patient In the Philippines will have only one 
electronic medical record containing the history of his/her medical conditions and 
treatments made thereto which can be accessible at any health care facility in the 
country. Through this system, patient medical records will no longer be scattered in 
different health care providers, thus aiding in accuracy in patient diagnosis and 
treatment through full disclosure of patient medical history to health care 
professionals. It improves health care quality, reduces medical errors, reduces health 
disparities, and advances the delivery of patient-centered medical care. It also reduces 
health care costs resulting from inefficiency.
This system can also be an effective anti-fraud tool for Philhealth, SSS and GSIS 
by providing these agencies information necessary to verify claims, thereby facilitating 
millions of pesos in savings from anti-fraud verifications. For the above-mentioned 
benefits, immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
ON
Senator


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EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session 
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SENATE 
S. No. 1773
Introduced by Senator Richard J. Gordon
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IN&EX^
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE ONE PATIENT- ONE ELECTRONIC MEDICAL RECORD 
SYSTEM IN THE PHILIPPINES THEREBY CREATING THE OFFICE OF THE 
NATIONAL COORDINATOR FOR HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:
1 
SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy-- It is hereby declared the policy of the State
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to establish a competent, reliable, efficient, integrated and centralized nationwide
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health information technology system that allows for the electronic use of patient
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health record system, that can be accessible to the patient and his/her healthcare
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professional as needed anywhere in the country. This system shall ensure the
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following:
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1.) Accurate and appropriate information to help guide medical decisions at the
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time and place of care is provided;
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2.) Early detection, prevention, and management of chronic diseases Is promoted;
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3.) Health care quality is improved and patient-centered medical care Is advanced
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by reducing medical errors and medical disparities in the diagnosis and
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treatment of patients;
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4.) Health care cost resulting from inefficiency, medical errors, inappropriate and
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duplicative care is reduced;
15 
5.) Coordination of care and information among hospitals, laboratories, physician
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offices, and other entities is improved through an effective Infrastructure for
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the secure and authorized exchange of health care information;
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6.) Patient's health information is secured and protected, and in accordance with
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applicable law;
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7.) Public health activities are improved and early identification and rapid response
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to public health threats and emergencies are facilitated;
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8.) Health and clinical research and health care quality are facilitated;
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9.) Fraud in the use of government social Insurance systems such as the
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Philhealth, SSS and GSIS is averted.
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SEC. 2. Institutionalization of the One Patient- One Electronic Medical
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Record System. There shall be established in the Philippines the One Patient-One
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Electronic Medical Record System, which is a centralized electronic patient health


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record system to be managed by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health
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Technology of the Department of Health.
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The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Technology In coordination with
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the Department of Information and Communications Technology C'DICT") shall make
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and Implement such programs as may be necessary to enable the One Patient-One
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Electronic Medical Record System available In the entire country, even In remote
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areas with limited access to Internet services.
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All health care providers and health care professionals keeping medical records of
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their patients shall migrate to electronic/digital format copies of such records and
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Integrate the same to the system provided for by the Office of the National
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Coordinator for Health Technology. The National Coordinator shall Issue IT
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Certifications to health care providers and health care professionals of their
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compliance to the One Patient-One Electronic Medical Record System of the Office of
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the National Coordinator for Health Technology. Issuance of the IT Certification by
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the National Coordinator shall mean that the electronic patient record system of the
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health care providers and health care professionals are compatible and are Integrated
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Into the One Patient-One Electronic Medical Record System.
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The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Technology shall In partnership
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with the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation C'PhUhealth"), Social Security
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System C'SSS") and Government Service Insurance System C'GSIS") make available
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to Phllhealth, SSS and GSIS such Information as may be necessary to verify claims
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for benefits before It, In accordance with the Data Privacy Act.
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All persons filing their respective claims with Phllhealth, SSS and GSIS consents
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to the use of the data contained In the One Patient-One Electronic Medical Record
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System pertaining to them for verification purposes upon filing of their application for
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such claims/benefits.
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SEC. 3. Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information
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Technology. There shall be created within the Department of Health, the Office of
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the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology headed by a National
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Coordinator who shall be appointed by the Secretary of Health and shall report
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directly to the Secretary.
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The National Coordinator shall be a Filipino Citizen and shall be of known
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competence, probity. Integrity and recognized expertise In Information systems,
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management, medicine or law. He shall be a career official who passed the merit and
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fitness test of the Civil Service Commission.
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The National Coordinator shall perform the following:
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1. Coordinate health Information policy and programs of the Department of Health
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with those of other relevant agencies of the government with the goal of
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avoiding duplication of efforts and of helping to ensure that each agency
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undertakes health Information activities primarily within the areas of Its greatest
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expertise and technical capability and In a manner towards a coordinated
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national goal.


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2. Become the leading member in the establishment and operations of the Health
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Information Technology Policy and Standards Committee C'HIT Policy and
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Standards Committee);
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3. Prepare the National Health IT Strategic Plan in consultation with the
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appropriate national agencies and various stakeholders;
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4. Maintain and frequently update an Internet website on which there is posted
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information on the work, schedules, reports, recommendations, updates on the
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implementation of the National Health IT Strategic Plan, issued Certifications,
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and other information to ensure transparency In promotion of a nationwide
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health information technology Infrastructure;
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5. Establish a governance mechanism for the national health information network;
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6. Establish a program for voluntary certification of health information technology
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as being in compliance with the applicable certification criteria issued by the
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Office of the National Coordinator for Health Technology of the Department of
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Health.
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SEC. 4. National Health IT Strategic Plan. The National Coordinator shall
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after due consultation and in collaboration with appropriate government agencies and
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private sector stakeholders formulate the National Health IT Strategic Plan. The
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National Strategic Plan shall identify specific objectives, milestones and metrics and
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provide measurable outcome goals in the implementation of the One Patient-One
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Electronic Medical Record System. Specifically, the National Health IT Strategic Plan
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shall provide the following:
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1. Full implementation and utilization of electronic heaith record for each patient
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in the Philippines in 2030;
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2. Electronic exchange and use of health information integration of healthcare
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providers and professionals of such Information;
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3. Incorporation of privacy and security protections for the electronic exchange
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of individual's Individually identifiable health information;
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4. Provision of security methods to ensure appropriate authorization and
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electronic authentication of health information;
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5. Methods to foster the public understanding of health information technology;
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6. Specification on the framework for coordination and flow of recommendations
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and policies among the Secretary, the National Coordinator, the HIT
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Information Technology Policy and Standards Committee and other health
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information exchanges and other relevant entities;
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7. Strategies to enhance the use of health information technology information
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technology in improving the quality of health care, reducing medical errors,
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reducing health disparities, improving public health. Increasing prevention and
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coordination with community resources, and improving the continuity of care;
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8. Specific plans for ensuring that populations with unique needs, such as
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children, are appropriately addressed in the technology design, as appropriate,
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which may Include technology that automates enrollment and retention for
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eligible individuals.


1 
SEC. 5. Certifications. The National Coordinator, in consultation with the DICT
2 
shall provide for a certification criteria and a program for voluntary certification of
3 
health Information technology as being In compliance with applicable certification
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criteria adopted by the National Coordinator in accordance with the National Health
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IT Strategic Plan. Certification Criteria means the criteria or standards and
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implementation specifications for health information technology to establish that the
7 
technology meets such standards and implementation specifications.
8 
Issuance of the Certification by the National Coordinator means compliance under
9 
this Section.
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SEC. 6. Health Information Technology Policy and Standards
11 
Committee. There shall be created the Health Information Technology Policy and
12 
Standards Committee (HIT Policy and Standards Committee), which shall make policy
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recommendations to the National Coordinator relating to the Implementation of the
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One Patient-One Electronic Medical Record System Including the implementation and
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of updating of the National Health IT Strategic Plan. The HIT Policy and Standards
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Committee shall also recommend to the National Coordinator standards,
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implementation specifications and certification criteria for the electronic exchange
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and use of health information in accordance with the National Health IT Strategic
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Plan.
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The HIT Policy and Standards Committee is composed of fifteen (15) members,
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as follows:
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1.) 3 members representing patients and consumers;
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2.) 2 members representing health care providers and professionals;
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3.) 1 member who has expertise in health Information privacy and security;
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4.) 1 member who has expertise in improving the health of vulnerable
26 
populations;
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5.) 2 members who have expertise in information systems management from
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the private sector;
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6.) 1 member shall be from the research community;
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7.) 1 member shall represent health plans. Insurance or other third-party
31 
players;
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8.) 1 member shall represent Information technology vendors;
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9.) 2 member shall be experts on information technology from the DICT;
34 
10.) 
1 member shall have expertise in health care quality measurement and
35 
reporting.
36 
Members to HIT Policy and Standards Committee shall be appointed by the
37 
Secretary of Health and shall serve for a period of six (6) years. They shall be entitled
38 
to such honorarium as the Secretary of Health may provide, and as approved by the
39 
Department of Budget and Management.
40 
A majority of the member of the HIT Policy and Standards Committee shall
41 
constitute a quorum for purposes of voting, but a lesser number of members may
42 
meet and hold meetings.
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SEC. 7. Linkages with Social Insurance.
The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology shall 
make available to the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, the Social Security 
System and the Government Service Insurance System, without cost, such data as 
may be necessary for the validation of member claims made with said agencies.
The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology may, 
subject to the consent of the patient, enter into agreements with private health and 
life Insurance companies for the sharing of medical information.
SEC. 8. Certification Mandatory for Philhealth Claims for 
Reimbursement.
Philhealth and the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Technology shall 
endeavor to provide healthcare professionals and Healthcare institutions access to 
the One Patient-One Electronic Medical Record System.
Access by Philhealth to patient medical record under the One Patient-One 
Electronic Medical Record System is a mandatory requirement prior to payment of 
Philhealth claims for reimbursements of such patient.
Philhealth and the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information 
Technology shall provide for such rules as may be followed, that will allow 
reimbursements in cases where access to One Patient-One Electronic Medical Record 
System is not possible due to lack of Internet access in the area.
SEC. 9. Linkages to Research.
The Department of Health shall utilize the information derived from the data 
collected by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology 
for research and in the improvement of programs for the improvement of the health 
of the people.
The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation shall make use of the data 
collected by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology 
in the development of their case rate system.
SEC. 10. Appropriations.- An initial amount of 50 Million Pesos (Php 
50,000,000.00) is hereby appropriated under the Department of Health for the 
implementation of this Act. Thereafter, such amounts as may be necessary for the 
continued operation of the system shall be continuously appropriated in the budget of 
the Department of Health.
SEC. 11. Separabiiity Ciause.- The provisions of this Act are hereby declared 
to be separable, and in the event any one or more of such provisions are held 
unconstitutional, they shall not affect the validity of other provisions.
SEC. 12. Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive and administrative orders, or 
parts thereof, inconsistent with any provision of this Act are hereby repealed or 
modified accordingly