The Development of Digitized Care in the Philippine Context

The worldwide health crisis has significantly impacted various industries, and the Philippine healthcare sector is no exception. The sector has had to make adjustments to continue its services while reducing the transmission of COVID-19. This has made it more challenging to accommodate patients with and without COVID-19, especially those carrying other critical cases. Telehealth has emerged as one of the solutions to address these challenges, and this article will explore the development of digitized care in the Philippine context.

The Emergence of Telehealth in the Philippines

In April 2020, the Department of Health (DoH) and the National Privacy Commission partnered to develop a framework for telemedicine services. This collaboration aimed to improve access to health services during the Enhanced Community Quarantine. The Joint Memorandum Circular formed by the two agencies declared that medical consultations over the phone, chat, short messaging service, and other audio and visual-conferencing platforms are considered telemedicine services in the country.

At that time, National Capital Region residents were served by free telemedicine hotlines, in partnership with several players in the health sector with telemedicine services. Since then, the number of teleconsultations has increased significantly. Government technology company OpenGov reported over 70,000 virtual sessions offered by telemedicine in the country since the development of the telemedicine framework.

The Growing Telemedicine Market

The telemedicine market value is predicted to increase over the next six years as digitalization continues to rise in the sector. Healthcare-focused market research firm Insights10 estimates that the telemedicine market has a double-digit billion-dollar market value, and is forecast to grow significantly during the next decade, reaching triple-digit revenue values.

Collaboration with Telemedicine Providers

The DoH has collaborated with telemedicine providers such as CloudPC, HealthNowPH, SeeYouDoc, TelAventusMD, Check E-consult, and TrinityCare. These providers offer online doctor consultations and an easy way to buy medicines online hassle-free.

Other healthcare applications offering medical consultations, diagnosis, and healthcare assistance include KonsultaMD, Medifi, HealthNow, AIDE, DOCPH, Yo-Vivo Health, and Lifeline. These can be accessed via hotlines, websites, and mobile applications.

Benefits of Telemedicine Platforms

Telemedicine platforms enable patients to save time from waiting in lines at medical facilities and conduct virtual consultations with qualified healthcare professionals in just a few minutes. Prescriptions can be administered as early as the following day. Telemedicine also provides a safe platform for easy access to patients' medical documents.

Digital Healthcare Transformation Panel Discussion

In March, the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DoST-PCHRD) organized a panel discussion on digital healthcare transformation. Digital experts shared their thoughts on digitalization, opportunities, challenges, and the future of digital healthcare in the country.

The discussion highlighted that the misconception that digitalization will destroy more opportunities has been debunked. Many sectors observed that shifting digitally has boosted work operations and productivity, even in the healthcare sector.

The Digital Health Index of the Philippines

Dr. Iris Thiele Isip-Tan, a professor at the University of the Philippines College of Medicine, cited the Digital Health Index of the Philippines during the panel discussion. She mentioned the need to "integrate digital health into the health professions curriculum so that a wide range of jobs will be created and opportunities will widen."

However, Dr. Isip-Tan emphasized that digital healthcare still needs improvement. Challenges like connectivity and accessibility remain to be addressed. She mentioned the limited bandwidth for telemedicine during the pandemic and how the Philippine General Hospital still provided services using mobile phones due to patients' lack of Wi-Fi.

Improving the Digital Healthcare Ecosystem

Usec. Jocelle Batapa-Sigue, undersecretary for the ICT Industry Development at the Department of Information and Communications Technology, highlighted connectivity, innovation, and inclusion as the three most important factors in improving the digital healthcare ecosystem in the Philippines.

Batapa-Sigue encouraged the inclusion of women, persons with disabilities, and senior citizens in the digital healthcare ecosystem. She expressed excitement about the current state of digitalization in the healthcare system, thanks to the advent of numerous technologies that make it easy to design applications and systems.

The Future of Telehealth in the Philippines

With the development of telehealth, health services can be conducted virtually and more easily. With the right investments and approach, telehealth solutions can be further improved towards enhancing the quality and access of digital healthcare for all Filipinos.

In conclusion, the development of digitized care in the Philippine context has made significant strides in recent years. Telehealth has emerged as a solution to the challenges faced by the healthcare sector during the COVID-19 pandemic. With continued investment and collaboration, the future of digital healthcare in the Philippines looks promising, offering improved access and quality of care for all.