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Facebook is the most popular social media platform in the Philippines, with an estimated 90 million users in 2025. However, a lot of users lack awareness on data privacy and security. Attackers can use their ignorance to stealing information.
For example, I have seen many “content creators” or “social media influencers” do raffle on their Facebook account/page. They would post something like “Comment your GCash number below, I will choose one who will win 5,000 pesos”, and people would willingly comment their GCash account number (a popular mobile wallet app). I have seen many Facebook posts like this, with hundreds of people posting their account number (and sometimes even other personal details) for everyone to see.
In addition, a person’s GCash account number is usually the same as his/her phone number. This makes them vulnerable to attacks such as identity theft and phishing. For example, Facebook allows login using phone number, so if you posted your phone number online, an attacker may use it to gain access of your Facebook account.
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Since I would like to develop a web-based application for patient appointments but there is only one IT officer working in the hospital, I would propose to the executive board the use of a cloud server for the project, particularly the PaaS service model for the following reasons:
1. In the PaaS cloud service model, the user has control over the deployment and configuration settings for the application. I can build, deploy, and manage a web-based application for patient appointments based on the hospital’s needs, without worrying about the management and control of the underlying cloud infrastructure (network, servers, operating system, and storage).
2. Compared to managing an application that runs on a physical server, using the cloud server for the application will lessen the burden for the IT officer (who is already in charge of fixing computers), since the cloud service provider will be one responsible for managing and controlling the underlying cloud infrastructure.
3. Resources on the cloud can be used anytime, anywhere, as long as there is an internet connection. The IT officer can monitor the status of the application even when he/she is away from work.
4. Using a cloud service can provide a better processing power and larger storage capacity for the application, without the high upfront cost of operating a physical server in the hospital.
5. A cloud server is easily scalable and services can be expanded. In the future, if the hospital wants to include more features to the web-based application, it can be easily done.
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According to WHO, the Philippines has one of the highest tuberculosis incidence rates in Southeast Asia and the fourth largest TB burden in the world. One of the ways the Department of Health use health informatics to strengthen outbreak detection, response, and control of tuberculosis is through the Integrated Tuberculosis Information System (ITIS).
ITIS is a web-based application (accessed through itis.doh.gov.ph) wherein in all health facilities in the Philippines (both public and private) are required to record all TB patients registered in their facility for treatment. Some of the features of ITIS include:
ITIS Lite – a lighter version of the platform used by private physicians to report patient data;
CareTB – aids in patient screening and contact tracing and provides a patient interface for reporting and accessing data, and
RaceTB – a TB dashboard for different stakeholders to access and review indicators at multiple levels.
Aside from patient records, inventory of TB drugs in the health facility are also recorded in the ITIS app. Health facilities can monitor how much TB drugs is in their stock on hand, its expiration date, and source (either donation, from DOH, or purchased by the local government unit).ITIS is a very useful tool in strengthening outbreak detection, response, and control of tuberculosis. A health facility with staff that has a comprehensive knowledge and skills on the use of ITIS will have a good database containing important information on TB cases in their area. Private health facilities can share their records to public health facilities online, and stakeholders can easily access and review data. Monitoring of TB patients and status TB drugs will also be easier.
Reference:
Philippines. (n.d.). Stop TB Partnership. Retrieved September 7, 2025, from https://tbassessment.stoptb.org/Philippiness.html -
I have been working in the public health field for around 8 years, first as a public health associate then as a public health nutritionist. The skills that I must improve on to become a professional in public health are the following:
Vision and System Planning
As a public health nutritionist, my focus at work is more on nutrition and dietetics. I need to have a more broad knowledge of public health practice in general.Health Data Standards and Integration
I recently completed a diploma in Computer Science and have taken a courses on Information Technology and Healthcare IT offered by IBM and Google on Coursera, so I have knowledge and skills on computer science, including database design management. However, I do not consider myself an expert, so I have to work hard in order to be an expert on health data standards and integration.Data Privacy and Security
I have basic knowledge on information technology security functions and health data privacy. I need to improve my knowledge on the subject and learn more about data privacy and security guidelines in a global setting.Systems Design and Implementation
I need to enhance my skills in managing information technology systems development and increase my knowledge on health systems and data interoperabilityVisualization, Analysis, and Reporting of Health Data
I need to learn how to use an analytic software for health data. I also need to work on my business intelligence and decision-making skills. -
Given the clinical and business benefits of cloud computing, yes I will consider moving the hospital’s information system to cloud computing if I am a director or an executive of the hospital; that is if the hospital can afford its cost. The total cost from the different financial areas – architecture, total cost of acquisition, total cost of data ownership, total cost of ownership (hard and soft), and operational transition cost (labor and management) must be considered. I will also talk and consult with stakeholders of the hospital and experts from the IT field regarding their suggestions, opinions, doubts about using the cloud, etc. In this way, we can work together and have a smooth and successful transition to cloud computing.
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My office computer and flash drive were attacked by a shortcut virus last year after inserting my flash drive to my officemate’s computer. I was not aware that her computer has been infected with the shortcut virus and because of this, the files stored in my flash drive were hidden and I was not able to access any of them. Fortunately, my own office computer’s antivirus is up to date and working, and it was able to detect the antivirus and remove it.
After I removed the shortcut virus and recovered my files stored in the flash drive, I informed my officemate that her computer has been infected with the shortcut virus. After asking for her permission, I updated her computer’s antivirus software and double-checked if the firewall is turned on. I also turned on the automatic updates of the antivirus software. After that, I performed a full scan to check if there are any remaining threats in her computer.
Due to this incident, I became more cautious whenever I insert my flash drive to other computers. I avoid using it in public computers and other devices that are not secured. I also check my computer’s antivirus and run scans regularly.
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A recent event that made the headlines here in the Philippines is the public shaming (via a Facebook post) done by a popular TV host to a physician, over his professional fee for treating a patient who had an infected leg wound. The said TV host since been called out by many healthcare workers and medical associations, who called his Facebook post “unjust and uncalled for.”
If I were to build a medical app for patients and doctors, it would be an app where patients can keep track of all the incurred expenses during their hospitalization, and other future expenses. A breakdown and explanation of all the expenses will be available, including the prices of medicine, the fees for the different services given, what services is covered by their insurance, estimated cost of future treatments, etc. This will be updated real-time, and if the patient or their guardian has any question about their expenses, they can send it via the app. This app may not have big or direct impact to the improvement patient’s medical outcomes, but it will help them become more informed and educated about their hospital expenses. Since patients can directly ask questions about their expenses through the app, the use of social media and other platforms to spread uninformed opinion might be reduced.
The type of my app will be a mobile web application, because unlike native app, it can work across multiple platforms, more secured, and can be integrated with existing systems and databases.
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Hello everyone. I am Jenny Bituin from the Philippines. You can call me Jenny or Jen. My background is in Nutrition and Dietetics, and a little bit of background in Computer Science. Since 2018, I have been working as a nutrition officer here in my hometown in the Philippines. As a nutrition officer, I handle nutrition programs, provide nutrition and other related services, and supervise our volunteer nutrition workers. In the BHI online program, I expect to learn more about the health information system and data management in healthcare.
I look forward to learning with you all!
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I currently work as a Nutrition Officer at the local (municipal) health office, also called the Rural Health Unit here in my hometown in the Philippines. Here are the problems in our office’s health information system that I observed and as interviewed from people using/managing our system.
HARDWARE
There is a lack of computers and printers solely dedicated to the health information system (particularly those for our Electronic Medical Record software). Because of this, some staff uses their own personal phone to access medical records and they have to share with the printer used by our office’s administrative staff. Fortunately, our supervisor (health officer) had place orders for new computers and printers.SOFTWARE
At the present, our local health office uses Wireless Access for Health (WAH) as our EMR provider. We started using them as a provider just this year (2025), and as of today we had not yet experienced any major problems using the system. Before using WAH, we are using the eKonsulta (Electronic Konsulta) system of PhilHealth, our country’s National Health Insurance Program (NHIP). Although WAH is easier to use than eKonsulta, it is expensive, compared to eKonsulta which is free. Fortunately, we receive revenues from PhilHealth reimbursements, which can be used to pay for the cost of using the software.DATA
I think this is one of the biggest problems in our health information system, along with process. Our health data needs more organization and since we are using a new EMR software this year, health data from previous years are not yet in the current system. This may be solved by hiring and training additional staff to help in the backlog of data.PROCESS
Our office has yet to establish a detailed process in the usage and management of our EMR software. New users sometimes get confused on what to do next, since there are no detailed guidelines/instructions. A written guideline on the usage of our EMR software will be very helpful for a better process.PEOPLE
Our office has hired more people last month in order to help in the management of our health information system. They have background on information systems and information technology, but most of them still have to undergo training on health information system. In addition, most of the people involved in managing our EMR software are job order personnel, meaning they are not permanent employees. Creating permanent positions for people working with our health information system and filling these positions with qualified personnel is very important for our continuous and high quality provision of health services. -
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That was a scary experience, considering that the scammer/s know personal details about you, such as your research paper. You might like to check out haveibeenpwned.com to see if your email address has been compromised in a data breach. The ICT support team from my previous university recommends this website to check whether our accounts are in the database of compromised email and passwords. It is a free and reliable website, and you can also set an alert so you can be notified of any data breach involving your email in the future.
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Since the target of the app are those with chronic or lifestyle-related diseases such as diabetes and hypertension, I think a good feature to add will be one that would allow patients to record their daily food intake. In this way, doctors will be able to check the diet of their patients and can make recommendations based on the patients’ food intake data in the app.
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