DOST, DOH hold 5th Philippine eHealth Summit; highlights big data, data privacy

PASAY CITY, Metro Manila- The Department of Science and Technology (DOST), through the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD), and the Department of Health (DOH) will hold the 5th Philippine eHealth Summit on 3 June 2016 at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC). With the theme “eHealth Philippines: Big Data, Big on Privacy,” the Summit will gather information technology (IT) and medical practitioners nationwide to present next steps to sustain the Philippine eHealth Strategic Framework and Plan. The Summit will also provide a platform for information dissemination of the current development of eHealth in the country. Concerns on data privacy and big data, in relation with the implementation of Data Privacy Act of 2012, will also be discussed. “This year’s eHealth Summit is a crucial one. We will be discussing topics such as the proposed eHealth bill, the next six years research agenda, and the health information exchange,” explained Dr. Jaime Montoya, PCHRD Executive Director. The winners of #ThinkOpenHealth, the very first hackathon event organized by PCHRD, DOH and Smart Communications last 16-17 April 2016, will also be awarded during the Forum. DOST Secretary Mario Montejo, DOH Secretary Janette Loreto-Garin, PhilHealth President Alexander Padilla, and Commissioner Raymond Liboro of the National Data Privacy Commission will open the event. “We are really hoping that this Forum will strengthen commitments and collaborations for eHealth Philippines,” Dr. Montoya added. The DOST and DOH created the Joint DOH – DOST National Governance Steering Committee and Technical Working Group on eHealth in 2013 to harmonize and advance the implementation and development of eHealth application and services in the country.

For more information on the eHealth Forum, contact Ms. Ullyann Carticiano-Garcia at 837-7534 or ucgarcia@pchrd.dost.gov.ph.