A party-list lawmaker pushed for the passage of a bill establishing a regulatory framework for the use of information and communication technology (ICT) for health.
“The eHealth System and Services bill is a necessary measure that will help provide a safe, cost-effective, secure, and accessible way for the Filipino people to look after their health needs,” Solid North party-list Rep. Ching Bernos, author of House Bill 3115, said.
The eHealth System and Services bill had passed third and final reading in the House of Representatives in the 19th Congress. Its counterpart measure in the Senate, however, failed to hurdle committee deliberations.
According to Bernos, the measure aims to provide the public with effective telehealth services by establishing, institutionalizing, and regulating a coherent, coordinated, and collaborative National eHealth System, guided by a national policy and strategic network.
Bernos explained that telehealth—one of the main components of the proposed eHealth system—can bridge the gap between patients and medical professionals, especially in remote areas where hospitals and specialists are scarce.
She pointed out that “with telehealth, consultations, diagnostics, and follow-ups can be done without the need for long and costly travel. This not only saves time and money, but also ensures that healthcare reaches communities that need it most.”
“As more of our fellow Filipinos avail of telehealth services, we need to ensure that their doing so does not endanger their health and privacy. We want a reliable and interoperable system that will make telehealth a viable option,” she added.
Bernos said the eHealth System and Services bill will help streamline and address issues on provision, access, availability, accountability, patient rights, electronic health data, security, and information exchange, among others.
