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Lawmaker bats for dev't of telemedicine, eHealth in PH

By Filane Mikee Cervantes

August 18, 2020, 7:11 pm

<p>Albay Rep. Joey Salceda<em> (File photo)</em></p>

Albay Rep. Joey Salceda (File photo)

MANILA – A bill that would enable the telemedicine and electronic health (eHealth) industry to expand in the country and provide more services to underserved communities has been filed at the House of Representatives.

In a statement on Tuesday, Albay Rep. Joey Salceda filed House Bill No. 7422 or the Philippine E-Health and Telemedicine Development Act of 2020, would promote the delivery of health and medical services through the use of information and communication technology (ICT).

Salceda said remote medicine services are essential, especially amid the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.

“We’ve set aside medical services for other diseases because Covid-19 has overtaken all other health priorities. But many of these diseases we are neglecting are deadlier and more debilitating than the virus. So, we need alternatives to our traditional modes of healthcare delivery,” Salceda said.

He noted that the proposed telehealth systems would reduce fraudulent schemes, which have been hounding the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).

“Telehealth is harder to defraud. You need to connive with more people, in an easily verifiable system, where anomalies can be identified with data analytics. If ever fraud happens in the telehealth system, we can more easily catch them,” Salceda said.

Salceda noted that the Philippines currently has no regulatory framework for telemedicine and electronic health systems.

“We have many cellphone users, and we have a strong BPO sector. Our health care system is weak. The path seems obvious to me: let’s use our strengths to improve our weaknesses,” he said.

Salceda highlighted the “glaring geographical disparities” in the distribution of basic medical facilities, citing 2016 government data that the National Capital Region has 23.1 hospital beds per 100,000 people, the rest of Luzon has 8.2, Visayas, 7.8, and Mindanao, 8.3.

Salceda also pointed out that while NCR has 10.6 doctors per 10,000 population, the national average is only at 3.9.

The bill seeks to establish the components of electronic health systems, regulate the necessary health and supporting infrastructure, and develop a framework for strategy and investment in the eHealth sector.

It identifies the Department of Health (DOH) as its primary regulator and the agency responsible for fundamental policies for coordination and governance of the sector.

The proposal sets basic sector standards and mechanisms for interoperability with conventional and other modes of healthcare service delivery, by defining standards of eHealth systems and services, and promoting synergies between different modes.

It also identifies strategies for industry development, such as promoting the accreditation of eHealth with insurance providers, training medical and non-medical support personnel, and ensuring eligibility for industry-promoting incentives, among others. (PNA)


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