· 
FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
S. No. 979 
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Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Article 8, Section 11 of the 1987 Constitution provides 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 
peop/e." 
Health Information Technology (HIT) is a tool for improving the quality, safety and 
efficiency of the health delivery system by providing the framework for management of 
health information and its secure exchange between consumers, providers, the 
government and qualified entities, and insurers. 
It is being utilized to facilitate 
improvements in health care quality, increase affordability and improve health care 
outcomes. 
This proposed measure seeks to establish a program that will mainstream the 
promotion and utilization of health information technologies (HIT) in our health care 
delivery system in order to improve the delivery of quality health care to our patients. 
Moreover, this measure seeks to provide technical assistance and grants to health care 
providers who intend to utilize health information technologies in order to improve their 
delivery of basic health services to t~eir patients. 
Furthermore, this measure seeks to establish and institutionalize a Health 
Information Technology Center, which shall be placed under the supervision and control 
of the Office of the Secretary of the Department of Health. The center shall serve as a 
hub of all databanks of health information technology (HIT) records and the 
implementation of the provisions of this measure. 
In view of the foregoing, early passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
o 
MAN~~" 
M. LAPID 
Senator 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
S. No. 979 
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Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid 
AN ACT 
INSTITUTING 
THE 
MECHANISMS 
FOR 
THE 
PROMOTION 
AND 
UTILIZATION OF HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (HIT) IN 
ORDER TO IMPROVE THE DELIVERY OF QUALITY HEALTH CARE 
SERVICES, CREATING THE HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 
CENTER, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. 
Short Title. -
This Act shall be known as the "Health 
Information Technology (HIT) Act of 2010." 
SEC. 2. 
Declaration of Policy. -
It is hereby declared the policy of the 
State to protect and promote the right to health of the people and establish quality 
standards in the delivery of health services to protect the general welfare of the public. 
As such, the State shall establish the mechanisms for the provision of Health 
Information Technology (HIT) in order to provide tools for improving the overall quality, 
safety and efficiency of the health delivery system. 
Moreover, the State shall establish a program to provide technical assistance or 
grants to eligible health care entities which seek to utilize health information technology 
(HTI) in order to improve quality in health care and patient safety, including costs for the 
purchase, lease, or installation of computer software and hardware. 
SEC. 3. 
Policy Objectives. - The provision of health information technology 
(HIT) is envisioned to provide tools for 
improving the overall quality, safety and 
efficiency of the health delivery system. 
The broad consistent utilization of HIT will (a) improve health care quality; (b) 
prevent medical errors; (c) reduce health care costs; (d) increase administrative 
efficiencies; and (e) expand access to affordable care. 
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It is hoped that the use of HIT will improve individual patient care and bring many 
public health benefits including: 
a) 
Early detection of infectious disease outbreaks around the country; 
b) 
Improved tracking of chronic disease management; and 
c) 
Evaluation of health tare based on value enabled by the collection of 
quality information that can be compared. 
SEC. 4. 
Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the following terms 
shall be defined as follows: 
(a) 
"Health Information Technology (HIT)" is the application of information 
processing involving both computer hardware and software that deals with the storage, 
retrieval, sharing, and use of health care information, data, and knowledge for 
communication and decision making. For HIT, technology represents computers and 
communications attributes that can be networked to build systems for moving health 
information. Health information technologies can include tools that help individuals 
maintain their health through better management of their health information. 
(b) 
"Secretary" shall refer to the Secretary of the Department of Health; 
SEC. 5. 
National 
Data 
and 
Communication 
Health 
Information 
Technology Standards. - Within one (1) year from the date of effectivity of this Act, the 
Secretary of the Department of Health (DOH) is hereby tasked to 
provide for the 
development and adoption of a national data and communication health information 
SEC. 6. 
Health Information Technology (HIT) Center. - There shall be 
created a Health Information Technology (HIT) Center to be placed under the 
supervision and control of the Office of the Secretary of the Department of Health. The 
center shall serve as a hub of all databanks of health information technology (HIT) 
records and other pertinent information significant to the implementation of the 
provisions of this Act. 
The center shall enforce strict compliance with the uploading and updating of 
electronic medical records as provided for in this Act. 
SEC. 7. 
Technical Assistance and Grants. -
The Secretary of Health 
shall establish a program to award grants and/or technical assistance to eligible entities 
that have submitted applications for the purpose of assisting such entities establishing 
health information technology (HIT) systems that are related to clinical health care 
informatics systems and services designed to improve quality in health care and patient 
safety. 
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The Secretary of Health shall require from the proponents the following 
information: 
a) 
A description of the clinical health care informatics system and services 
that the eligible entity intends to implement with the assistance received under this 
section; 
b) 
a description on how the health information technology (HIT) will improve 
quality in health care and patient safety, including estimates of the impact on the health 
of, and the health costs associated with the treatment of, patients with heart disease, 
cancer, stroke, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, or any other 
disease or conditions; and 
c) 
a description on how the health information technology (HIT) will ensure 
the privacy and security of individually identifiable health information. 
d) 
any additional information that the Secretary may specify, consistent with 
the provisions of this Act. 
SEC. 8. 
Monitoring the State of Health Information Technology in the 
Country. - The Secretary of the Department of Health (DOH), in coordination with the 
various stakeholders in the Health Information Technology, is hereby tasked to conduct 
a comprehensive study to evaluate the use of clinical health care informatics systems 
and services to measure and report quality data, and assess the impact of such 
systems and services on improving patient care, reducing costs, and increasing 
efficiencies. 
Within three (3) years from the date of effectivity of this Act, the Department of 
Health (DOH) shall make a report to both Houses of Congress on the results of the 
study conducted by it for policy implication, in aid of legislation, in order to further 
promote the use of health information technologies (HIT) in the country. 
SEC. 9. 
Funding. - There is hereby authorized to be appropriated for the 
implementation of this Act the amount of Fifty Million Pesos (Php50,OOO,OOO.OO) for the 
initial operations of the Health Information Technology (HIT) Center as an attached 
agency of the Department of Health! Thereafter, such amount needed to implement this 
Act shall be included in the Annual Appropriations Act of the Department. 
SEC. 10. 
Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). - Within six (6) 
months from the date of effectivity of this Act, the DOH shall promulgate necessary 
implementing rules and regulations to implement the prOVisions of this Act. 
SEC. 11. 
Repealing Clause. - All Laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and 
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regulations or parts thereof not copsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby 
repealed or modified accordingly. 
SEC. 12. 
Separability Clause. - If any provision or part of this Act, or the 
application thereof to any person or circumstance, is held unconstitutional or invalid, the 
remainder of this Act shall not be affected thereby. 
SEC. 13. 
Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
from the date of its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) 
national newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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