by Miriam G. Desacada
Borongan City–House Minority Leader Marcelino “Nonoy” Libanan pushes for the creation of a secured patient information sharing system among healthcare providers to improve patient’s safety and health outcomes.
“There’s no question that a patient information sharing system among healthcare providers can lead to faster diagnosis and treatment, especially in emergency cases, and lessen the hazard of life-threatening medical errors,” said Libanan, a 4Ps Party-list representative.
“We are now living in a world of greater people mobility. Individuals can have a sudden medical emergency anywhere, and yet their digital or physical medical records are somewhere else,” Libanan explained.
“Anybody can have a heart attack or figure in a road crash at any time, and get rushed to the nearest hospital for treatment. Medical practitioners of that hospital should be able to quickly access that individual’s health history through a system,” he expounded the need of such information system.
The veteran legislator wanted the national government to spearhead the creation of this patient information system. “We would urge the Department of Health to start putting up the system, of course with adequate privacy safeguards,” he said in a statement to the media.
Allaying apprehensions of potential data privacy violations, Libanan said the law already allows the processing of restricted personal details, but for medical action purposes.
He cited Chapter 3, Section 13 (e) of the Data Privacy Law of 2012, or Republic Act No. 10173, stipulating that sensitive personal information may be processed when necessary for purposes of medical treatment, and when carried out by a medical practitioner or a medical treatment institution.
“The law merely underscores the need for the privileged information to be effectively protected at all times against unwanted privacy intrusions,” Libanan said.
By and large, a secured patient information sharing mechanism “can bring about a very efficient and highly responsive healthcare system for all,” added the congressman.
Though a lawyer by profession, Libanan also holds a bachelor’s degree in medical technology, which is also a distinct field of medical profession involved in health services. —Miriam G. Desacada