Healthcare facilities required to report all data to gov't, says DOH

Public and private healthcare facilities are required to submit health and health-related data of patients to the Department of Health and Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) for the smooth implementation of the Universal Health Care law, a DOH official said Thursday.

Dr. Eric Tayag of DOH Knowledge Management and Information Technology Service said the patients’ data will be under National Health Data Repository System.

“Under the Universal Health Care Act, lahat po, public and private sector, pati iyong nagkakalap ang research, dapat i-report ang data sa PhilHealth at DOH,” Tayag said in an online forum.

“Ang kukunin lamang ay iyong importanteng impomasyon na mapapakinabangan ng buong bansa, para maunawaan natin ano na ang nangyayari sa kalusugan ng mga Pilipino,” he added.

Tayag said these include data from the Philippine Statistics Authority and the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

“Kung one to 10 ang hinihingi sa inyong data sa ospital, sa amin, one to five lang. Lahat ng record na ‘yan, mananatili sa mga ospital at kung kakailanganin ng ibang doktor, hindi na sila mahihirapan maghagilap,” he said.

Tayag, however, assured the public that their medical records will be safeguarded under doctor-patient confidentiality and by the Data Privacy Act.

“Siyempre may maseselan na datos ang pasyente, sasabihin nila, naku Doc, huwag mo ise-share ang ating usapan. Sinisiguro ng DOH at PhilHealth na iyong pinadadala sa aming impormasyon eh hindi magamit sa masamang paraan,” Tayag said.

Tayag then argued that the National Health Data Repository would not only help implement the Universal Health Care law but also facilitate care for patients in need of various forms of medical care.

“May magtatanong, Doc, saan ba may development pediatrician kasi may kamag-anak kami na may autism. Hindi na sila mahihirapan hanapin kasi andun na iyon sa National Health Data Repository. Puwede na kayo mamili ng doctor at appointment,” Tayag said.

“Kapag may stroke patient at kailangan ng CT-scan na pinakamura, saan bang ospital meron noon? Alam niyo na agad kasi doon sa National Health Data Repository. Mas madali na at hindi na paulit-ulit ang ginagawa,” he added. --KBK, GMA News