In 1997, UP Manila established the Medical Informatics Unit at the University of the Philippines College of Medicine (UPCM), marking the beginning of our institutional commitment to using technology to improve health care.
By 1998, the National Telehealth Center (NThC) was established at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), reflecting our vision to harness telehealth for reaching underserved communities.
In 2004, UPM made a significant leap with the creation of the Community Health Information Tracking System (CHITS), an open-source electronic medical record system designed specifically for rural health units, empowering local health workers with digital tools. To date, it is the longest running open source EMR in the country.
In 2005, we recognized the need to build capacity, and so, we established the Master of Science in Health Informatics program at UPCM and the College of Arts and Sciences, equipping the next generation of professionals with the skills necessary to lead in this emerging field.
The following year, 2006, saw the launch of the Buddyworks Partnership for Telehealth initiative, and alongside it, a short course on telemedicine for doctors in the barrios, bringing vital services closer to our communities.
In 2010, the NThC developed the first version of Rxbox, a portable telemedicine device that paved the way for better healthcare access in remote areas.
In 2011, we improved our pioneering system with the release of CHITS version 2, further refining our approach to health information systems in rural areas.
2012 was a landmark year, as we launched Rxbox version 2, with 100 units developed in partnership with Alexan. That same year, NThC also took on a leadership role as the secretariat for the Asia eHealth Information Network (AeHIN), expanding our influence beyond national borders.
In 2013, the University of the Philippines Manila Chancellor became a member of the National eHealth Steering Committee and Technical Working Group, solidifying our role in shaping the national digital health agenda.
2015 saw us co-host the Big Data Conference with MIT Critical Data at UP Cebu, exploring the possibilities of big data analytics in healthcare.
By 2016, we launched Rxbox version 3, scaling up the deployment with 1,000 units developed in partnership with Ionics.
In 2017, we co-hosted another Big Data Conference with MIT Critical Data, this time at UP Diliman. That year also marked the establishment of the Standards and Interoperability Lab Asia (SILA) in UP Manila, ensuring that health data systems can communicate seamlessly across platforms.
In 2020, we saw the establishment of SIBOL, further enhancing our capacity to innovate in biomedical device development.
More recently, in 2023, UPM co-hosted the Philippine Datathon with De La Salle University, pushing the boundaries of what data-driven solutions can do for health.
And as we look ahead to 2024, we are proud to support the Department of Health in organizing the Philippine Digital Health Summit, an event that will bring together leaders from across the sector to chart the future of digital health in the Philippines.
Each of these milestones reflects our unwavering commitment to the belief that health informatics, telemedicine, and digital health solutions are not just innovations—they are necessities in improving the health outcomes of our people. As we continue to forge ahead, let us remember that these achievements were made possible through the dedication and collaboration of countless individuals and organizations, all working toward a common goal: the betterment of healthcare in the Philippines.
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