Telemedicine Developmeent Act of 2025

Splate Office of tus ecretarp TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session 25 DEC -3 P1:30 SENATE RECEIVED BY: S.B. No. 1572 INTRODUCED BY SENATOR RISA HONTIVEROS AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A NATIONAL POLICY AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORK FOR THE PHILIPPINE TELEMEDICINE INDUSTRY, PROMOTING THE DELIVERY OF HEALTH SERVICES USING INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGIES, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES EXPLANATORY NOTE The COVID-19 pandemic pushed our public health system to its limits and revealed long-standing gaps that we can no longer ignore. One of the clearest lessons is the need to strengthen remote healthcare delivery. As our hospitals focused on treating COVID-19 cases, many Filipinos were left without access to essential and even urgent medical care. To protect the public, our health system shifted quickly to remote services. Managing both COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients became a daily struggle, but telemedicine opened a new path forward. With better access to digital tools, teleconsultations through hotlines, websites, and mobile apps became a lifeline for many families. Studies show that telehealth made care safer and more accessible during the pandemic. It helped limit infections, conserve protective equipment, support patients with chronic illnesses, and save time and resources for both patients and health workers. Telemedicine is more than a temporary solution-it is an opportunity to build a fairer, stronger healthcare system. With the right support, it can expand access, improve services, and contribute to our nation's recovery. Above all, it offers safety, convenience, and dignity in the way we deliver care. In times like these, our health challenges need modern and innovative solutions. Through this proposed measure, we want to address the long-standing shortage of doctors and health workers, especially in the most remote communities. With telemedicine, we can bring quality healthcare to people without requiring our medical

and healthcare workers to leave their posts-and without forcing patients to travel far just to get the care they need. This measure seeks to institutionalize a national telemedicine system and establish a clear, people-centered framework for its development and regulation. In view of the foregoing, the immediate approval of this bill is earnestly sought. GSALENTIVEROS Rareful Senator

Seat: Office of the fore tarp TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session 25 DEC -3 P1:30 SENATE S.B. No. 1572 RECEIVED BY: INTRODUCED BY SENATOR RISA HONTIVEROS AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A NATIONAL POLICY AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORK FOR THE PHILIPPINE TELEMEDICINE INDUSTRY, PROMOTING THE DELL VERY DELIVERY OF HEALTH SERVICES USING INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGIES, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION. 1. Title. — This Act shall be known as the "Telemedicine

Development Act of 2025."

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - The State recognizes the universal and

inalienable right of every Filipino to health, including timely access to health services, especially during public health emergencies when physical distancing and limits to travel are necessary. Towards this end, the State shall promote the use of electronic modes for the delivery of basic health services to expand access to primary and specialty care. It shall develop 9 and regulate the practice of telemedicine in the Philippines and recognize it as a legitimate method by which a patient may receive medical services from a licensed physician without physical contact, consistent with established standards of medical practice.

Sec. 3. Objectives. — This Act shall govern the following:

a) Expanding access to health services in medically underserved rural and urban areas; b) b. Standardizing, upgrading, and maintaining telemedicine as a distinct domain of healthcare delivery;

c) Establishing mechanisms for policymaking, monitoring, and compliance, including the formulation of policies, guidelines, and standards for quality and acceptable Health systems and services; d) Upholding competence, values, and professional ethics among physicians engaged in telemedicine practice; information and communications technology (ICT) e) Developing infrastructure to promote equitable, affordable, and universal access to health services; and f) Facilitating secure exchange of personal health information among authorized health providers to improve care, and ensuring appropriate public access to relevant health information for personal health promotion.

Sec. 4. Definition of Terms. — Definition of Terms. As used in this act, the

following terms shall mean: a) Practice of Medicine - refers to acts constituting the practice of medicine as defined in in the Medical Act of 1959 and other related laws, including the examination of patients and the diagnosis, treatment, or prescription of remedies for any human disease or condition, whether done physically or through electronic means. b) Telemedicine - refers to the practice of medicine over a distance, wherein medical interventions, diagnostics, treatment decisions, recommendations are based on data and information transmitted through telecommunication systems. c) Telehealth - refers to the delivery of health-related services and information using telecommunication technologies for preventive, promotive, curative, rehabilitative, and palliative purposes. d) Physician - refers to a professional duly licensed by the Professional Regulatory Board of Medicine to practice medicine in the Philippines. e) Patient - refers to any person receiving medical treatment or advice through in-person or telemedicine services. f) Domain - refers to a specified field of knowledge or activity within the telemedicine system.

g) Telecommunication systems - refer to the collection of nodes, links, devices, and technologies enabling telecommunication and remote exchange of information. h) Information and Communications Technology - includes, but is not limited to: compressed digital interactive video, audio, or data transmission; real- time synchronous video or web conferencing; secure web-based communication; still image capture or asynchronous store-and-forward technology; and smart medical devices used for diagnosis and health care services.

Sec. 5. Coverage. - This Act shall apply to all telemedicine practitioners,

institutions, entities, services, and related application systems in both the public and private sectors. Nothing in this Act shall alter the scope of practice of any health provider or authorize the delivery of health services in a manner not otherwise permitted by law. The law shall also cover eHealth solutions and services, including equipment and ancillary services that use ICT and directly support recognized health care modalities.

Sec. 6. Enforcement. - The Department of Health (DOH) shall regulate and

supervise the practice of telemedicine in the Philippines. It may, in coordination with relevant agencies, establish an attached office to implement this Act. The regulation of professional practice shall remain under the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) and the Professional Regulatory Board of Medicine.

Sec. 7. Persons Allowed to Diagnose through Telemedicine. - Only physicians

duly licensed by the Professional Regulatory Board of Medicine may diagnose and 24 provide medical consultation through telecommunication systems.

Sec. 8. Privacy and Consent of Patients. - The following conditions shall be

observed: a) Prior to administering telemedicine services, the attending physician shall obtain informed consent-written, digital, or recorded-from the patient. The consent shall include: 1. The patient's right to withhold or withdraw consent at any time without affecting access to care;

2. Explanation of potential risks, consequences, and benefits of telemedicine; 3. Assurance of confidentiality under existing laws; 4. Patient's access to medical information transmitted during the consultation; 5. Prohibition on sharing identifiable patient information without consent; and 6. Confirmation that the patient understands the information provided. b) The consent shall form part of the patient's medical record. c) Failure of the physician to comply with this section shall be penalized under the IRR of this Act. d) For minors or incapacitated patients, consent shall be obtained from the legal guardian. e) All telemedicine providers shall be considered data controllers under the Data Privacy Act of 2012. f) Patients shall retain all rights of a data subject under the Data Privacy Act. g) This section shall not apply in emergencies where the patient or representative is unable to provide consent.

Sec. 9. Establishment of Physician-patient Relationship. — Upon compliance to

Section 8 of this Act, a physician-patient relationship shall be deemed established

through telemedicine, and all relevant laws governing such relationship shall apply.

Sec. 10. Telehealth and Telemedicine Services. - Telehealth involves the use

of ICT to enable diagnosis, consultation, treatment, education, care management, and patient self-management at a distance. Telemedicine shall not modify or expand the scope of medical practice nor authorize healthcare delivery inconsistent with existing laws.

Sec. 11. Electronic Medical/Health Record (EMR/EHR). — All EMR/EHR data

shall be treated as protected health information, subject to established rules on access, authentication, storage, auditing, and transmission. Provided that disclosure of protected health information shall be limited and standardized following international and national regulations.

Provided further that patients may obtain copies of their EMR/EHR and must provide informed consent for sharing with third parties, except: when information is used to produce aggregate health statistics for processing social health insurance claims; for public health emergencies; or when required by law enforcement with proper authority.

Sec. 12. Standards of Care. - Standards of care in telemedicine shall follow

7 established clinical and service guidelines. Care delivered electronically shall meet the same standards as in-person care. Telemedicine shall complement, not replace, in- person health services. The physician remains primarily accountable for healthcare delivery.

Sec. 13. Secure Health Information Exchange (HIE). - The DOH, DICT, DOST,

and PhilHealth shall establish a secure Health Information Exchange using a common trust framework and rules supporting electronic information exchange across sectors and locations. This includes infrastructure, standards, core services, and applications forming part of the national eHealth environment.

Sec. 14. Compliance Required. — Telemedicine providers shall comply with the

following: a) All facilities, including clinics and hospitals, shall register with the DOH as telemedicine providers; b) All personnel handling data or telecommunication systems shall be licensed or certified, where required by law; c) All equipment and telecommunication systems shall be declared upon DOH registration, and operating personnel must be duly trained or certified; d) Telemedicine services shall be available at reasonable and clearly stated schedules and, as feasible, accessible to all; e) Software platforms connecting medical devices and gateways shall comply with national standards to ensure seamless data transfer and EHR/EMR standardization; and f) ICT infrastructure shall conform to the national ICT plan and standards issued by the DICT.

Sec. 15. Implementing Rules and Reputations. - Within ninety (90) days after

approval of this Act, the DOH and DICT, in consultation with appropriate government

agencies, the private sector, and stakeholders, shall promulgate the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) for its effective implementation.

Sec. 16. Separability Clause. - In the event that any part, section or provision

of this Act shall be declared unconstitutional or invalid by a competent court, the remaining provisions thereby shall remain valid and in full force and effect as if the sections or provisions so annulled or voided had never been incorporated herein.

Sec. 17. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, issuances,

rules and regulations, or parts thereof not consistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified and/or superseded as case may be by this Act accordingly.

Sec. 18. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation, whichever comes earlier. Approved,