The current global health crisis has highlighted the value of virtual health through telehealth, telemedicine, or remote patient monitoring. Due to lockdowns and community quarantines, healthcare organizations, ranging from large hospitals to small independent physicians, are now adopting telehealth systems to continue providing services to their patients.
Recognizing the advantages of virtual health, the Department of Health (DOH) and the National Privacy Commission (NPC) released a set of “Guidelines on the Use of Telemedicine in COVID-19 Response” last April. This joint memorandum aims to enable patients to receive health services even while staying at home, except for emergencies or to avail of COVID-19-related health services as per standing protocols.
