Baguio Showcases Locally-developed Electronic Medical Record System

Francis Camarao, Information Technology Officer II, Management Information Technology Division, City Government of Baguio

Pioneering an electronic health information system in the Cordilleras, Baguio City developed its own electronic medical system (EMS) dubbed the Baguio Medical Records System (BMRS) to track data and improve health outcomes in the city. 

Francis Camarao, Information Technology Officer II from the city’s Management Information Technology Division, narrated the journey of BMRS, as well as its impacts and challenges, during the Zuellig Family Foundation (ZFF)’s Bayang Malusog Community of Practice session on Health Information System (HIS) Strengthening.

Before BMRS, both local health leaders and patients faced a myriad of problems in navigating their healthcare journey. Data silos and fragmentation of workflows limited the planning for policies and program appropriations. Meanwhile, patients reported difficulties in claiming their health benefits due to lack of claims visibility.

Baguio had a goal in mind: a unified patient record, improved service delivery reports, reduced manual processes and fragmented systems, and prevent excessive vendor subscriptions. Most importantly, Baguio wanted to achieve universal health goals.

The introduction of BMRS allowed both policy-makers and patients to utilize existing health records and claims. Current features of the BMRS include patient management, consultation and basic services, electronic PhilHealth claim services, and public health program data including immunization and nutrition. 

Baguio invested in their health information system, and the results speak for themselves. According to Camarao, the utilization of BMRS allowed for faster patient data retrieval, improved decision-making, better reporting and tracking, and cost-efficiency. 

However, the development of BMRS didn’t come without challenges. Although costs are reduced over time, the upfront investment needed to develop the system can account for a majority of the expenses and continuous funding for its maintenance are needed. Additionally, skilled personnel, developed through capacity training, are also needed for the use of BMRS.

For Baguio City, it is important to invest in people and in systems. Although the development of a health information system is a daunting task, Camarao advised local governments to start small, and scale strategically. Camarao ended his report with a strong message, “A stronger health system begins when every patient is seen, every story is heard, remembered, and acted upon with 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.