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MALACAÑAN PALACE MANILA

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES

EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. ______

PROVIDING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE PHILIPPINE HEALTH INFORMATION

NETWORK, ITS OBJECTIVES, AND ITS COMPOSITION

WHEREAS, one of the six building blocks for efficient health systems as defined by the

World Health Organization is “a well-functioning health information system that ensures the production, analysis, dissemination and use of reliable and timely information on health determinants, health system performance and health status.”

WHEREAS, the 60th World Health Assembly signified the creation of inter-sectoral

networks to improve information systems and the Philippines, as a member country, is duty-bound to comply with this provision.

WHEREAS, the Department of Health through the Aquino Health Agenda, also known

as Kalusugan Pangkalahatan, identified Health Information as a strategic instrument critical for a more responsive and improved policy-making, program development, and health service provision at the national and local levels of the health system;

WHEREAS, national and local health systems must consider the significance of

investing on a modern, well-developed, and functioning health information technology system and network to access quality information and to enhance efficiency and effectiveness in health governance and management;

WHEREAS, key players in the country’s health information network, in both public and

private sectors, develop and implement its own plan with minimal coordination and integration with other information- and statistics-producing agencies, which results to duplication of generated information as well as overlapping programs and activities;

WHEREAS, several assessment reports on the state of the Philippine Health Information

System (PHIS) have highlighted alarming information gaps and problems, such as data underutilization or excessive generation, data inaccessibility, poor data quality and timeliness, fragmented data systems, and gaps in data capacity and skills of personnel and users, including low investments in health information;

WHEREAS, in recognition of the imperative and critical need to coordinate and

harmonize health information management, a Memorandum of Agreement in 2005 formulated among the Department of Health (DOH), National Statistics Office, National Statistical Coordination Board, and Philippine Council for Health Research and Development created the Philippine Health Information Network, hereafter referred to as PHIN, to establish and implement an integrated and harmonized Philippine Health Information System.

WHEREAS, health information stakeholder groups expand PHIN to align and harmonize

the efforts of concerned agencies within and outside the DOH, and ensure that quality and relevant health information is efficiently produced, managed and shared;

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WHEREAS, the President, under Section 17, Article VII of the Constitution, has the

power and control over executive departments, bureaus and offices, as well as the continuing authority, under existing laws, to reorganize such executive departments and agencies.

NOW, THEREFORE, I BENIGNO S. AQUINO III, President of the Philippines by virtue

of the powers vested in me by law, so do hereby order: SECTION 1. Establishment of Philippine Health Information Network (PHIN). PHIN

shall be a coordinated and coherent interagency mechanism that will establish an integrated and harmonized PHIS that ensures availability of health data, information, and knowledge towards more efficient health systems and achieving desired health outcomes.

SECTION 2. Declaration of PHIN Objectives. PHIN shall undertake these objectives: 2.1 Strengthen the Philippine Health Information System which shall facilitate sharing

and exchange of relevant, timely, and reliable health information among the stakeholders;

2.2 Develop policies and standards for health information generation, sharing, inter-operability, confidentiality, and other concerns;

2.3 Advocate for the use of available health information and best practices; and 2.4 Recommend capability-building programs in support of the goals of PHIN. SECTION 3. Composition of PHIN Membership. The PHIN is hereby expanded to be

composed of the DOH Secretary as Chairperson and the Heads of the following agencies or their duly designated alternates or its equivalent rank as members:

3.1 Commission on Population

3.2 Department of Education 3.3 Department of Interior and Local Government 3.4 Department of Science and Technology 3.5 Department of Social Welfare and Development 3.6 National Economic and Development Authority 3.7 National Statistical Coordination Board 3.8 National Statistics Office 3.9 Philippine Health Insurance Corporation 3.10 Philippine Hospital Association 3.11 Philippine Medical Association 3.12 Philippine Nurses Association 3.13 University of the Philippines Manila 3.14 University of the Philippines - Population Institute 3.15 World Health Organization 3.16 Representatives from Non-Government or Private Organizations working,

advocating and/or using health information

Representatives from the Non-Government or Private Organization shall be nominated by any member of the Committee and appointed by the Chairperson for a term of two (2) years, which may be renewed upon re-nomination by the Committee and re-appointment of the Chairperson.

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The PHIN may create inter-agency subcommittees as may be necessary to fulfill its mandate. The Network may also call upon other relevant government agencies and private sector groups as circumstances and exigencies may require.

The DOH shall provide technical, administrative, and secretariat support to the PHIN

through the National Epidemiology Center and Information Management Service. SECTION 4. Coverage. All departments, bureaus, offices or agencies, especially health

facilities of government including the private sector health facilities shall give full support and collaborate with PHIN for the smooth and successful formulation and implementation of the PHIS.

SECTION 5. Funding. The PHIN shall develop a multi-year expenditure plan to

establish and manage a responsive PHIS, which if not at hand, will be incorporated in the DOH budget. The operation of PHIN will be taken from the operating budgets of NEC and/or IMS or any available funds of the Office of the Secretary.

SECTION 6. Separability Clause. If any provision of this Executive Order is declared

invalid or unconstitutional, other provisions not affected thereby shall remain valid and subsisting.

SECTION 7. Repealing Clause. All orders, circulars, memoranda, rules, regulations and

others issuances or parts thereof inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly.

SECTION 8. Effectivity. This Executive Order shall take effect immediately upon

publication in a newspaper of general circulation. DONE, in the City of Manila this ___ day of __________, in the year of our Lord Two

Thousand and Twelve. By the President: PAQUITO N. OCHOA, JR. Executive Secretary