By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos | Philippine News Agency
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has institutionalized an inter-agency body that will supervise the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation’s (PhilHealth) digital transformation to ensure the delivery of “faster, corruption-free, and citizen-centered” healthcare services.
Under Administrative Order (AO) 42, a project management group (PMG) is created to manage and oversee the implementation of PhilHealth’s Digital Transformation Program aimed at establishing a “comprehensive, integrated, interoperable, progressive, secure, and sustainable Philippine Digital Health System.”
PhilHealth will lead the PMG, with the Department of Information and Communications and Technology (DICT) serving as co-chair.
Other members include the Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).
“The PMG shall ensure that the PhilHealth Digital Transformation Program is implemented in alignment with the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028,” AO 42, signed by Marcos on March 6 but made public on May 12, read.
“All policies, systems, and activities under this initiative shall conform to national standards on data governance, data privacy, cybersecurity, interoperability, and citizen-centric digital transformation.”
The PMG is directed to convene and adopt a detailed 2026-2027 Roadmap with measurable milestones within 30 days from the effectivity of the order.
It is mandated to create a comprehensive, multi-year roadmap with clear targets, timelines, and success indicators for PhilHealth’s digital transformation.
It also has the authority to exercise centralized oversight over the design, development, integration, deployment, and operationalization of PhilHealth’s digital systems.
AO 42 also allows the PMG to institutionalize automated, auditable, and traceable digital processes to prevent fraud and enable real-time monitoring and post-audit capabilities.
The PMG is also directed to ensure compliance of digital initiatives with national policies and standards on ICT architecture, cybersecurity, data privacy, and interoperability.
It must also make sure that PhilHealth’s digital transformation yields concrete and measurable outcomes, taking into consideration relevant local and international practices in digital health systems as benchmarks for performance and continuous improvement.
It is also tasked to facilitate the mobilization of financial, technical, and human resources, as well as assess and mitigate technical, operational, financial, legal and cybersecurity risks.
The PMC may establish a technical working group composed of technical experts to provide operational and technical support, conduct system assessments, develop implementation plans, and ensure alignment with national data interoperability standards.
The inter-agency body will be rendered “functus officio” (having performed one’s duty) upon the attainment of the objectives unless sooner abolished or dissolved by the President.
The funding requirements for the implementation of the order will come from the available appropriations of PMG member-agencies.
AO 42 takes effect immediately upon its publication in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation.
