House okays eHealth System and Services Act on 3rd reading
THE House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading a proposed law seeking to establish the Philippine Electronic Health or eHealth System and Services to further intensify the implementation of the Universal Health Care in the country.
House Bill (HB) 10245 or the “eHealth System and Services Act” was principally authored by House committee on health chairperson Quezon Rep. Angelina “Doktora Helen” Tan aimed at providing better healthcare services needed by the people.
Under the measure, a system on the dissemination of quality information regarding health and service using information and communication technology (ICT) or the National eHealth System (NeHS) will be established.
Should the proposal become a law, an independent body called eHealth Policy and Coordination Council will be created to formulate policy and measures to effectively implement the eHealth system.
The measure will also implement activities for the realization of eHealth services and applications, Human Resource for eHealth Development Plan, establishment and maintenance needed for national ICT infrastructure for eHealth services and applications and the National eHealth Data Center.
Tan explained that the eHealth system will result to a better system of providing healthcare to the people.
With the continued presence of the coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19), tan underscored the importance of eHealth system.
“Lubhang mahalaga at napapanahon ang National eHealth System na ipatupad sa bansa dahil papagbutihin nito ang paglalaan ng kinakailangang serbisyong pangkalusugan ng mamamayan,” Tan explained.
“Ang pamumuhunan sa eHealth lalo na ngayon na nasa gitna tayo ng pandemya ay kinakailangan upang tiyakin ang pantay na pag-abot sa serbisyong pangkalusugan, lalo na para doon sa mga naninirahan sa geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDA) at partikular na sa mga mahihirap nating kababayan,” Tan ended.
