Aklan’s Local Health Information Exchange: Putting Aklanons at the Center of Digital Health

From left to right: Dr. Catherine Chung, Zuellig Family Foundation (ZFF) Local Health Systems Director; Dr. Leo Ismael, Aklan Provincial Health Officer I; Dr. Manuel Dayrit, ZFF Chairman

The Province of Aklan is taking steps toward building a more connected and responsive health information system through its Local Health Information Exchange (LHIE). 

Presented by Dr. Leo Ismael, Provincial Health Officer I of Aklan, during ZFF’s Bayang Malusog Community of Practice session on Health Information System (HIS) Strengthening, the Aklan LHIE reflects both the promise and difficulty of digital transformation in local public health.

Serving a population of more than 600,000 residents across 17 municipalities and 327 barangays, Aklan manages an extensive health network. At present, the province uses the Department of Health (DOH) systems iClinicSys and Integrated Hospital Operations and Management Information System (iHOMIS). All 21 primary care facilities have reportedly implemented a functional electronic medical record system, showing that the province has already made significant progress.

However, Dr. Ismael emphasized that having multiple digital systems does not automatically mean having an integrated health system. Currently, Aklan’s patient information remains fragmented. Referral coordination is still largely done through phone calls or Messenger, while health data is often encoded days or weeks after care has been provided. This delay increases the risk of errors and limits timely clinical and management decisions

Another major challenge is the interoperability of data systems. Clinical data may already exist in several systems, but these systems are not yet fully connected. This makes it difficult for health workers to access a complete view of patient care. The province is also facing practical constraints, such as limited information and communications technology (ICT) human resources and equipment gaps.

Dr. Ismael stressed that relying on encoders is not ideal. For HIS to work in real time, doctors, nurses, and other health workers must be the ones to encode data directly during or immediately after service delivery. This approach can improve accuracy and reduce delays. It also encourages health workers to treat data not as a separate administrative burden, but as part of quality patient care.

Aklan’s LHIE direction is anchored on interoperability, facility readiness, usability, technical support, compliance with national standards, and alignment with government procurement processes. The province recognizes the need for a dedicated and committed ICT team that can support implementation, troubleshooting, and long-term system sustainability.

The key lesson from Aklan’s experience is that health digitalization is not just about buying software. It requires planning, investment, policy support, trained personnel, and strong leadership from local chief executives. Most importantly, the chosen health information system must fit the local context and actual needs of the province.

Aklan’s journey shows that a connected LHIE can lead to greater transparency, better accountability, more efficient service delivery, and stronger evidence-based decision-making. While the work is still ongoing, the province offers a practical reminder to other LGUs: build systems that serve people, support health workers, and make data useful at the point of care.

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On May 6, 2026, ZFF convened the Bayang Malusog Community of Practice—a learning platform for health officials across the Philippines—to strengthen HIS as the backbone of health reform. The session brought together 17 provinces, one city, and representatives from five DOH regional offices, each sharing diverse operational realities and digital health maturity levels to advance Universal Health Care. Read more about the event here.