The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) announced Tuesday that healthcare providers will be required to adopt electronic medical records (EMR) as part of its expanded Yaman ng Kalusugan Program (YAKAP), a move aimed at improving service quality and patient safety.
In a statement, the state insurer emphasized that the transition to digital records is essential for delivering more comprehensive and preventive healthcare.
“To deliver on that promise, participating clinics and hospitals must use electronic medical records — so doctors can accurately track patient health history, avoid errors, and ensure continuity of care,” it said.
“These systems also protect the program from potential abuse, so its benefits reach those who truly need them,” PhilHealth added.
The agency stressed that the requirement is not merely procedural but serves as a safeguard to ensure that every Filipino accessing YAKAP services receives proper and consistent care.
PhilHealth noted that its provider payment model is structured to support operational costs under YAKAP standards, including investments in digital systems. It added that it is studying ways to help healthcare providers manage the transition.
Despite the shift, the agency assured members that access to YAKAP services will remain uninterrupted as it works closely with partner clinics and hospitals to implement EMR systems smoothly.