The House Committee on Health chaired by Quezon Representative Helen Tan (4th District) has formed a technical working group (TWG) to consolidate several measures seeking to create an electronic health system led by House Bill No. (HB) 8 penned by Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, which seeks to create the National Health Passport System.
The other measures to be consolidated are HB 61 by Representative Victor Yap (2nd District, Tarlac), which proposes the creation of a Philippine eHealth System and Services with the use of information and communications technology (ICT), HB 171 by Representative Helen Tan and HB 665 by Representative Ron Salo (Party-list, KABAYAN).
“The lack of information and medical record keeping is yet to be addressed.”
In the explanatory note of his bill, Speaker Cayetano said the lack of information and medical record keeping is yet to be addressed.
“For Filipinos in general, it is not a usual practice to keep such documentation – whether of previous check-ups, diagnostic test results, medication, treatments, and procedures done, among others,” the veteran legislator said.
The seasoned lawmaker added that the government should give emphasis and priority in assisting Filipinos in record keeping and making medical history available.
“The creation of a Health Passport System provides each Filipino with a document that reflects each individual’s full medical history.”
Cayetano proposed the creation of a Health Passport System, which provides each Filipino with a document that reflects each individual’s full medical history and other relevant data.
“In the event of emergencies, this will also be a handy tool that can be essential in saving lives,” he said.
Particularly, the “health passport” shall be a mobile record booklet of the patient containing, among other things, the following: 1) Patient’s medical and dental history as recorded by the physician, dentist or authorized health professionals: 2) Medical and dental test results; 3) Diagnostics: 4) Medicines and medical treatment availed of; 5) Basic medical data; 6) Information on all medical and health related benefits provided by laws; and 7) Information regarding the patient’s medical rights and privileges under the passport system.
As stated in HB 8, all Filipino citizens shall be entitled to a health passport to be used when a patient avails of medical and dental check-ups or treatment provided in government or private medical institutions.