University of the Philippines Manila National Telehealth Center

22/04/2026

𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐂𝐇 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐍𝐄𝐖𝐒𝐋𝐄𝐓𝐓𝐄𝐑

Our March 2026 Newsletter is live! FHIR SDC training, eClaims 3.0 updates, and progress in digital health interoperability – everything you need to stay in the loop.

Read the full update: tinyurl.com/5d4pzkeh 📩

20/04/2026

You still have time ⏳ 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗔𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗹 𝟮𝟰, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 (𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆)!

Join the FHIR Structured Data Capture (SDC) Training happening May 13-15 (full-day, online via Zoom), led by the National Telehealth Center in partnership with the Department of Health and CSIRO under the Strengthening Standards Capability Project.

Open to software developers, programmers, and Health IT specialists with background in FHIR, JSON, REST APIs, and FHIRPath.

Be part of building better, more connected health data systems—register now: https://bit.ly/EOIsscpFHIRSDC

𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 "𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧" 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐄𝐱𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 🧠🏥🗃️

What if health forms could think, adapt, and do the work 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 you?

Applications are now open for the FHIR Structured Data Capture (SDC) Training under the Strengthening Standards Capability Project, led by the National Telehealth Center in partnership with the Department of Health (Philippines) and the CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation)!

🔩 𝗙𝗛𝗜𝗥 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗖𝗮𝗽𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 (𝗦𝗗𝗖) 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴

📅 May 13-15, 2026 (full-day)
💻 Online via Zoom (with LMS support)

As the Philippines moves toward a unified Health Information Exchange, we’re moving past basic digital forms. SDC brings in “smart forms” – transforming static questionnaires into interactive tools that guide inputs, apply logic, and make data more usable in real time.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐒𝐃𝐂?

✅ Standardized Data - one shared set of definitions across all health facilities

✅ Built-in Logic - forms can calculate risk scores (e.g., BMI, dosage) and adjust questions in real time

✅ Auto-Population - pulls existing patient data so you don’t have to encode it twice

𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐲?

💻 This is an advanced technical course intended for Software Developers, Programmers, and Health IT Specialists.

⚠️ Prerequisite

✅ Prior familiarity with FHIR (Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources), JSON, and REST APIs.

✅ Able to compose FHIRPath expressions to implement Boolean logic and calculations.

Help us build a more interoperable future for Philippine healthcare!

🔗 Register your interest here: https://bit.ly/EOIsscpFHIRSDC

DEADLINE OF APPLICATION: April 24, 2026

17/04/2026

𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 "𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧" 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐄𝐱𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 🧠🏥🗃️

What if health forms could think, adapt, and do the work 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 you?

Applications are now open for the FHIR Structured Data Capture (SDC) Training under the Strengthening Standards Capability Project, led by the National Telehealth Center in partnership with the Department of Health (Philippines) and the CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation)!

🔩 𝗙𝗛𝗜𝗥 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗖𝗮𝗽𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 (𝗦𝗗𝗖) 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴

📅 May 13-15, 2026 (full-day)
💻 Online via Zoom (with LMS support)

As the Philippines moves toward a unified Health Information Exchange, we’re moving past basic digital forms. SDC brings in “smart forms” – transforming static questionnaires into interactive tools that guide inputs, apply logic, and make data more usable in real time.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐒𝐃𝐂?

✅ Standardized Data - one shared set of definitions across all health facilities

✅ Built-in Logic - forms can calculate risk scores (e.g., BMI, dosage) and adjust questions in real time

✅ Auto-Population - pulls existing patient data so you don’t have to encode it twice

𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐲?

💻 This is an advanced technical course intended for Software Developers, Programmers, and Health IT Specialists.

⚠️ Prerequisite

✅ Prior familiarity with FHIR (Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources), JSON, and REST APIs.

✅ Able to compose FHIRPath expressions to implement Boolean logic and calculations.

Help us build a more interoperable future for Philippine healthcare!

🔗 Register your interest here: https://bit.ly/EOIsscpFHIRSDC

DEADLINE OF APPLICATION: April 24, 2026

10/04/2026

📢 𝐖𝐄 𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐇𝐈𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆: 𝐓𝐄𝐂𝐇𝐍𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐋 𝐀𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐍𝐓 📢

The University of the Philippines Manila - National Telehealth Center (NTHC) is looking for a dedicated Technical Assistant to join the Strengthening Standards Capability Project (SSCP).

This role is pivotal in providing strategic and technical support to the DOH-KMITS Digital Health Unit (DHU), ensuring the seamless implementation of national digital health initiatives.

☑️ Full TOR and application instructions: https://bit.ly/SSCPdohTA
📅Deadline: April 24, 2026
❓Questions? Email nih-nthc.upmanila@up.edu.ph

31/03/2026

“𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝗮𝗸𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲... 𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮 𝗻𝗮 𝗯𝗮 𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗯𝗮𝗴𝗼 𝗽𝗮 𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗱𝘂𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘆𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲?”

Hindi lang response ang importante — 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗶 𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗮𝗴𝗱𝗮𝗹𝗼𝘆 𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘀𝘆𝗼𝗻.

This animation shows the 𝗥𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗙𝗹𝗼𝘄 — from crash to care, hanggang follow-up. At higit pa rito, ito ang 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗮 𝗻𝗴 𝗡𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 𝗦𝗜𝗟-𝗣𝗛 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗻, kung saan sinubukan natin: 𝘬𝘢𝘺𝘢 𝘯𝘢 𝘣𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘢𝘨-𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘧𝘦𝘳 𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘢 𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘮𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴 𝘴𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘴?

💡 𝗦𝗮𝗴𝗼𝘁: 𝗢𝗼, 𝗸𝗮𝘆𝗮 𝗻𝗮.

1. EMS collects and sends real-time data
2. Hospitals receive patient info even before arrival
3. Government uses accurate data for better decisions
4. Primary care continues patient recovery

All connected through a 𝗙𝗛𝗜𝗥-𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱, 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺 — ensuring no data is left behind, and every second counts.

𝗠𝗮𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗮 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗮 = 𝗺𝗮𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗮𝘆𝗼𝘀 𝗻𝗮 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝗯𝗶𝘀𝘆𝗼 = 𝗺𝗮𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗴𝘁𝗮𝘀 𝗻𝗮 𝗸𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗮𝗱𝗮

12/03/2026

What will the future of health look like for the Filipino people?

Be ready to engage in meaningful conversations that bring together experts to explore how research, innovation, and collaboration can transform healthcare systems, frameworks, and strategies as we navigate Shaping the Four Futures of Health.

Session 1: “No Voice Left Behind: Co-creating Research through Shared Power, Knowledge, and Lived Experience”

Featuring Dr. Eva Maria Cutiongco-de la Paz and Ms. Teresita Panganiban, this session highlights how personalized medicine and participatory approaches can make health innovations inclusive, equitable, and grounded in Filipino communities.

Session 2: “Signals Heard, Actions Taken: From Research to Response, Integrating Diagnostics, Data, and Intervention Strategies”

Hear from Dr. Percival Lao and Mr. Arturo Ongkeko as they share preventive and predictive strategies, supported by diagnostics, data, and cross-sector frameworks, strengthen early detection and proactive health action.

Be part of the conversation. Unravel the Four Futures of Health with PCHRD.

📅 Tune in on 18 March 2026 via DOST-PCHRD Facebook Live. 🗣️

28/01/2026

📣 WE’RE HIRING!

The University of the Philippines Manila National Telehealth Center is looking for motivated individuals to join our team and support national efforts in digital health and health data standards:

- Training Officer
- Training Assistant
- Communications Assistant

Full ToR and application instructions: bit.ly/nrc2026

Deadline: 28 February 2026 (reviewed on a rolling basis)

Questions? Send them to: nih-nthc.upmanila@up.edu.ph

21/11/2025

TAMANG IMPORMASYON = TAMANG DESISYON 💯✅

Ayon kay National Institutes of Health - National Telehealth Center Director Art Ongkeko, layunin ng Road Safety Connectathon na magkaroon ng isang sistema na ang bawat health worker, sa kanayunan man o sa lungsod, ay maka-access ng tamang impormasyon upang makagawa ng tamang desisyon para sa bawat Pilipino.

📷 Ehcel Hurna

19/11/2025

IN PHOTOS: Road safety is a shared responsibility between the government and the private sector. This was echoed by guest speakers on the third day of the Road Safety Connectathon, held on November 19, 2025, at the Sotogrande Hotel in Katipunan Avenue. UP Manila Chancellor Michael Tee, Department of Health (DOH) Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo, DOH Director of Knowledge Management Information Technology Service Bentley Roxas, and NIH Deputy Director for Strategic Initiatives and Emerging Programs, Dr. John Mark Velasco emphasized that through interoperability and HL7 FHIR, data translates into smart policies, paving the way to safer roads and enabling faster responses to road traffic incidents.

“The use of HL7 FHIR is a game changer as we are investing in a buildable asset that can be reused for public health intervention. Imagine, we do not need to change data for different formats that will later on be reused in treating tuberculosis, HIV, and even tracking the defaulters of immunization, among others," DOH Asst. Secretary Domingo said. "Policies are only as good when stakeholders like you make use of what the policies are offering. The government has recommended the use of HL7 FHIR since 2014. It is only today that we are seeking an uptake, primarily because you take time together to agree and recommend how your systems can best adapt to it."

📷 Ehcel Hurna

18/11/2025

IN PHOTOS: The second day of the Road Safety Connectathon focused on data verification for clinical workflows, emphasizing the validation of critical data elements and ensuring data completeness in creating a standardized patient record. The preliminaries and recap were delivered by Roy Dahildahil of UP Manila’s Medical Informatics Unit, while the sessions on Monitoring, Verification, and Evaluation of Data Exchange were led by Dr. Cristal Ann Laquindanum-Tan, also from the Medical Informatics Unit. A segment on Benefits, strategy, and governance for digital health standards adoption was led by Dr. Michael Fong, followed by a joint planning session.

Organized by the National Telehealth Center of the National Institutes of Health, the five-day workshop on November 17-21, 2025 at the Sotogrande Hotel in Katipunan Avenue, Quezon City, brought together emergency medical specialists, policymakers, academic experts, and representatives from key government agencies to develop standardized data elements, interoperability guidelines, and cloud-based exchange systems anchored on Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources. The workshop’s overarching goal is to establish standardized patient data that can be seamlessly accessed across emergency medical services, hospitals, and national government records. A notable illustration of this vision is enabling a medical record created in Manila to be readily accessible to a healthcare facility in Aparri, Cagayan.

📷 Ehcel Hurna

17/11/2025

IN PHOTOS: The Road Safety Connectathon kicked off today with Day 1 training on the Foundations of Healthcare Interoperability, attended by representatives from various sectors involved in emergency response, healthcare, transport, and public health. Participants were introduced to the SIL-PH Project by NTHC Director Art Ongkeko and learned key interoperability concepts, standards, and FHIR fundamentals from Dr. Iris Thiele Isip-Tan of the UP Manila College of Medicine, Medical Informatics Unit. In the afternoon, sector-focused workshops for decision-makers, healthcare teams, and IT professionals tackled program management, semantic mapping, and data integration points. This training lays the groundwork for the Connectathon later this week, where participants will test and align road safety data workflows to help move toward a more harmonized and interoperable national road safety data ecosystem.

Read more: https://bit.ly/4ojFAQV

17/11/2025

IN PHOTOS: Representatives from concerned sectors participated in the Road Safety Connectathon, organized by the National Telehealth Center - National Institutes of Health (NTHC-NIH), on November 17, 2021, at the Sotogrande Hotel, Katipunan Avenue, QC. Research Assistant Professor Arturo Ongkeko, Director of NTHC-NIH, discussed the persistent challenges in the Philippine road safety data system - fragmented reporting across emergency medical services, hospitals, and public health surveillance systems that still largely operate in silos. The connectathon served as a test use case that harmonized over 200 data elements and enabled the development of standardized minimum data sets and interoperability guidelines grounded in a global messaging standard, Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR), working toward seamless data flow between emergency management systems, hospitals, and national surveillance records.

On the same day, Dr. Iris Thiele Isip-Tan, Chief of the Medical Informatics Unit of UP Manila College of Medicine, discussed the importance of understanding the fundamentals of FHIR, core terminology, standards-lifecycle and levels interoperability, and the FHIR Implementation Guides. Parallel workshops were also held on the topics: Program Management for Interoperability, Semantic Mapping for Subject Matter Experts, and Understanding Data Integration Points.

📷 Ehcel Hurna