About Us

Vision

eHealth in empowered communities.

Mission

To engage communities in the design, development, and use of appropriate and progressive Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) towards better equity in health.

Core Values

EMPOWERMENT. The National Telehealth Center values empowerment that motivates, inspires, and strengthens ourselves, and our partners towards sustainable development and self-reliance.

ENGAGEMENT. NTHC values enriching engagements with people through effective communication towards a national eHealth policy ensuring the integrity of health information. We value the contributions of our partners: local government units, national government, non-government organizations, private sector, and the community.

APPROPRIATE AND PROGRESSIVE TECHNOLOGY. NTHC believes in appropriate technology that is useable and sustainable by, from, and with underserved and marginalized communities.

SERVICE. NTHC’s driving force is its commitment to provide unrelenting service through its information and communications technology to promote “health for all.”

EXCELLENCE. Recognizing its leading role in the development of ICTs for health in the Philippines, NTHC values excellence exemplified through strong creative research and development processes, and being good.

History

The National Telehealth Center was born under the leadership of Chancellor Perlas Santos-Ocampo and approval of the University Board of Regents in July 30,1998.The center is the leading research unit in the University of the Philippines responsible for developing cost effective tools and innovations in the realm of information and communications technology (ICT) for improving health care. NTHC experienced a breakthrough, when it first conducted telemedicine research-cum-service in remote and underserved areas from Batanes to Zamboanga through partners in the then Commission on Information and Communications Technology’s (CICT, 2004‐2008) and Department of Science and Technology ‐ Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST‐PCHRD, 2008‐2011). Today, the center partners with various government and non-government institutions, engaging them on eHealth research, training, and service activities.

Awards and Accreditations

The Community Health Information Tracking System or CHITS, the country’s first electronic medical record system for government health facilities, won the “Best Health Market Innovation Award” in Galing-Likha Kalusugan Awards at the Grand Ballroom of the Hotel Intercontinental Manila last November, 2011.

The Community Health Information Tracking System or CHITS, was among the “Best Programs of UP Manila”, presented by University Chancellor Marita Reyes last 2005 to President Emerlinda Roman on her inauguration as the 19th President of the University of the Philippines.

CHITS became a finalist at the Stockholm Challenge Best e-Gov Project held at Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Digital Opportunities Center, Taipei, Taiwan last 2006.

CHITS was included in the Compendium of Best Practices in Local Health Systems, Department of Health-National Capital Region in the same year.

Networks

The Asia eHealth Information Network (AeHIN) promotes better use of information communication technology (ICT) to achieve better health through peer-to-peer assistance and knowledge sharing and learning through a regional approach for greater country-level impacts across South and Southeast Asia.

Visit the AeHIN website here.

The National Telehealth Center represents the University of the Philippines Manila in the National eHealth Steering Committee and National eHealth Technical Working Group, which are part of the implementation of the National eHealth Program.

Read more about the National eHealth Program here.

The eHealth SOCCSKSARGEN Alliance was organized as a result of the rCHITS implementation in Mindanao, and led by implementors of the rCHITS and the RxBox. It is intended to be a forum to share experiences, raise issues and concerns for collective action. The heightened awareness and skills on eHealth developed through the NTHC projects brought better appreciation for the need for standards-based eHealth applications and engagement of local government leadership as the health sector modernizes through eHealth.

The Alliance has a page here.