Prohibition on the Non-disclosure of Hospitals and Other Health Facilities of COVID-19-Related Data to Authorized DOH Representatives and/or HRH for Purposes of Contact Tracing for the Duration of COVID-19 Health Event
On May 21, 2020, the Department of Health (DOH) issued a circular emphasizing the importance of hospitals and health facilities cooperating with authorized DOH representatives for COVID-19 contact tracing. Under Republic Act No. 11332, health entities are mandated to provide necessary patient information for effective epidemiological investigations. While the DOH recognizes the need to protect patient privacy under the Data Privacy Act, non-cooperation or delays in providing COVID-19-related data can hinder public health efforts. Hospitals refusing to comply may face penalties as outlined in the same Act. The DOH stresses the necessity of timely and accurate data sharing to contain the virus effectively.
Quick Answers
- What is Prohibition on the Non-disclosure of Hospitals and Other Health Facilities of COVID-19-Related Data to Authorized DOH Representatives and/or HRH for Purposes of Contact Tracing for the Duration of COVID-19 Health Event about?
- On May 21, 2020, the Department of Health (DOH) issued a circular emphasizing the importance of hospitals and health facilities cooperating with authorized DOH representatives for COVID-19 contact tracing. Under Republic Act No. 11332, health entities are mandated to provide necessary patient information for effective epidemiological investigations. While the DOH recognizes the need to protect patient privacy under the Data Privacy Act, non-cooperation or delays in providing COVID-19-related data can hinder public health efforts. Hospitals refusing to comply may face penalties as outlined in the same Act. The DOH stresses the necessity of timely and accurate data sharing to contain the virus effectively.
- What type of law is DOH Department Circular No. 2020-0228?
- Prohibition on the Non-disclosure of Hospitals and Other Health Facilities of COVID-19-Related Data to Authorized DOH Representatives and/or HRH for Purposes of Contact Tracing for the Duration of COVID-19 Health Event (DOH Department Circular No. 2020-0228) is a Philippine Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) Issuances enacted by the Congress of the Philippines.
- When was Prohibition on the Non-disclosure of Hospitals and Other Health Facilities of COVID-19-Related Data to Authorized DOH Representatives and/or HRH for Purposes of Contact Tracing for the Duration of COVID-19 Health Event enacted?
- Prohibition on the Non-disclosure of Hospitals and Other Health Facilities of COVID-19-Related Data to Authorized DOH Representatives and/or HRH for Purposes of Contact Tracing for the Duration of COVID-19 Health Event (DOH Department Circular No. 2020-0228) was enacted on May 21, 2020.
- What is the citation for Prohibition on the Non-disclosure of Hospitals and Other Health Facilities of COVID-19-Related Data to Authorized DOH Representatives and/or HRH for Purposes of Contact Tracing for the Duration of COVID-19 Health Event?
- Prohibition on the Non-disclosure of Hospitals and Other Health Facilities of COVID-19-Related Data to Authorized DOH Representatives and/or HRH for Purposes of Contact Tracing for the Duration of COVID-19 Health Event, DOH Department Circular No. 2020-0228, May 21, 2020 (Philippines)
Law Information
- Reference Number
- DOH Department Circular No. 2020-0228
- Date Enacted
- Subcategory
- Department of Health
- Jurisdiction
- Philippines
- Enacting Body
- Congress of the Philippines
Full Law Text
May 21, 2020
DOH DEPARTMENT CIRCULAR NO. 2020-0228
| TO | : | All Undersecretaries, Assistant Secretaries; Directors of Bureaus and Centers for Health Development; Minister of Health-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao; Executive Directors or Specialty Hospitals and National Nutrition Council; Chiefs of Medical Centers, Hospitals, Sanitaria and Institutes; President of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation; Directors of Philippine National Aids Council and Treatment and Rehabilitation Centers, and All Others Concerned |
| SUBJECT | : | Prohibition on the Non-disclosure of Hospitals and Other Health Facilities of COVID-19-Related Data to Authorized Department of Health (DOH) Representatives and/or Human Resources for Health (HRH) for Purposes of Contact Tracing for the Duration of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Health Event |
The Department of Health (DOH) received information that certain hospitals refused to provide important patient information or data needed for COVID-19 contact tracing activities to authorized DOH representatives and Human Resources for Health (HRH).
Section 6 of R.A. No. 11332 or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act mandates DOH authorized personnel to conduct epidemiological investigation, case investigations, patient interviews, review of medical records and contact tracing, among others for the control and containment of notifiable diseases, including COVID-19. The Department maintains the right to privacy of health information, as such, the processing of personal health information of all suspect, probable, and confirmed COVID-19 cases and identified close contacts shall be in accordance with R.A. No. 10173 or the Data Privacy Act of 2012, the Department of Health-National Privacy Commission Joint Memorandum Circular No. 2020-02 dated April 24, 2020, and other relevant issuances.
With due consideration to data privacy rights of patients and close contacts, it must be noted that refusal and/or any form of undue delay in the provision of COVID-19-related data are detrimental in conducting timely and effective contact tracing and containing the virus. The Department reiterates the provisions under Section 9 of R.A. No. 11332, which prohibits the non-cooperation of persons and entities that should report and/or respond to notifiable diseases or health events of public concern. As such, hospitals and health facilities, whether public or private, that refuse, decline, or withhold patient information from the authorized DOH representatives or HRH including non-cooperation and other prohibited acts shall be penalized in accordance with Section 10 of the same Act.
Dissemination of the information to all concerned is requested. CAIHTE
(SGD.) FRANCISCO T. DUQUE III, MD, MScSecretary of Health
Cite This Law
Prohibition on the Non-disclosure of Hospitals and Other Health Facilities of COVID-19-Related Data to Authorized DOH Representatives and/or HRH for Purposes of Contact Tracing for the Duration of COVID-19 Health Event, DOH Department Circular No. 2020-0228, May 21, 2020 (Philippines)
Prohibition on the Non-disclosure of Hospitals and Other Health Facilities of COVID-19-Related Data to Authorized DOH Representatives and/or HRH for Purposes of Contact Tracing for the Duration of COVID-19 Health Event, DOH Department Circular No. 2020-0228 (Phil. 2020)
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