SHOULD ONLINE MEDICAL CONSULTATIONS BE A RIGHT, NOT A PRIVILEDGE?

SHOULD ONLINE MEDICAL CONSULTATIONS BE A RIGHT, NOT A PRIVILEDGE?

Let’s talk about something that started out of necessity during the COVID-19 pandemic and somehow never left—online medical consultations. Once a novel emergency response, they’re now becoming part of the healthcare landscape. But here’s the rub: they’re only accessible to those who can afford them. That’s not just a bug in the system—it’s a clear violation of our national vision for universal healthcare.

So, what happened? Why is something as potentially democratizing as telemedicine creating a new form of inequality? The answer, it seems, lies in two simple but frustrating facts: First, our public hospitals and clinics are either not equipped or not allowed to offer online consultations. Second, PHILHEALTH—the very institution meant to protect the Filipino patient—is not reimbursing them. Still.

Now, I don’t say this to bash PHILHEALTH. Let’s be fair—this agency has been burned before. Remember the cataract scam? That was a painful reminder of how vulnerable our systems are to exploitation. Frankly, it's no surprise PHILHEALTH is cautious. In a country that breeds scams like mushrooms after rain, caution is understandable.

But here’s my question: Is it really that hard to secure online consultations from fraud?

We live in an age where even your smartphone knows more about you than your closest friend. Multifactor authentication (MFA) is already standard practice in banking, finance, and even food delivery apps. We have biometrics—facial, voice, retinal recognition. We have one-time passwords (OTPs), QR codes, NFC chips. Heck, we even have gait recognition! (Yes, apparently your walk is as unique as your fingerprint.)

So why can’t we use the same tools to secure digital healthcare?

Let’s not make this more complicated than it needs to be. The problem here isn’t the lack of technology—it’s the lack of coordination, willpower, and frankly, vision.

If PHILHEALTH is worried about identity fraud, then let’s fix that. Secure the patient’s identity. Validate the doctor’s credentials. Use two-factor authentication as a baseline. Scale up to more advanced verification where needed. This is not rocketing science—it’s policy lagging technology.

And that brings me to the bigger picture. Mr. President, I humbly submit: It’s time to bring together the agencies that matter—DICT, DOH, PHILHEALTH, NPC, and the CICC—and task them with a national strategy for secure online healthcare. If necessary, do what only you can do: issue an Executive Order. Lay the foundation. Remove the ambiguity. Signal that digital healthcare is no longer optional—it’s the future.

But don’t stop at the government. The private sector is teeming with experts who know how to make systems secure and reliable. I know this because I’ve worked with them before—on the National Crime Information System (NCIS) and Project 8888. They’re still around. They’re still willing. Let’s mobilize them.

Let me end with a question to every Filipino reading this: Should access to online consultations depend on your wallet, or your right as a citizen?

We have the tools. We have the talent. What we need now is leadership. Universal healthcare was never supposed to mean just physical clinics and hospitals. In the digital age, it must include virtual access too.

As the saying goes, “For every problem, there is a solution.” Technically speaking, there’s no such thing as a data security problem that can’t be solved. The only unsolvable problem is one we refuse to address.

Let’s not allow digital healthcare to become just another luxury for the rich. Let’s make it what it should be: healthcare for all—wherever you are, whenever you need it.

Ramon Ike V. Seneres, www.facebook.com/ike.seneres
iseneres@yahoo.com, 09088877282, senseneres.blogspot.com

08-24-2025