We’ve Been Here Before: Why Resistance to Health Tech Is Nothing New
As the world embraces digital transformation, the Philippine healthcare system finds itself at a crossroads — caught between great potential and deep-rooted systemic challenges.
We’ve seen glimpses of progress: telemedicine reaching remote areas, electronic records improving continuity of care, and digital tools reducing manual inefficiencies. But for every step forward, we face long-standing hurdles: communities without electricity, health workers untrained in digital systems, and fragmented platforms that don't communicate with each other.
Worse, there's often resistance to change — not just from systems, but from people.
As Dr. Reza Gohmi put it:
“Healthcare needs evolutionary technology that will thrive in existing systems.”
This quote captures the core of the challenge: the future of healthcare in the Philippines won't be built through radical disruption, but through practical, grounded innovation — innovation that respects the complexity of what already exists.
Change Feels Scary — But We’ve Been Here Before
Every major technological leap has triggered fear and skepticism:
When the calculator entered classrooms, many feared it would erode students’ math skills.
When computers became mainstream, some worried they'd replace workers and wipe out entire industries.
The rise of online streaming sparked concern that cinemas and video rental shops would die out — and many did.
And yet, over time, we adapted. These technologies didn’t destroy the core of education, work, or entertainment — they reshaped them.
Digital healthcare is no different.
The fear that technology will make care less personal, less humane, or too complex for public systems is real — but it shouldn’t paralyze us. Evolution doesn’t mean erasure. It means progress that builds on what’s already working, and improves what isn’t.
The Real Barriers We Must Confront
Despite its potential, digital health still faces steep obstacles in the Philippines:
Lack of electrification in far-flung areas
Many barangays still lack stable power, making digital tools hard to deploy.
Limited internet and mobile signal access
Without connectivity, telehealth and digital reporting systems operate at a limited capacity.
Resistance from within
Some health workers, administrators, and policymakers are skeptical or unprepared for digital change.
System fragmentation
Different platforms are used across regions and facilities, often without interoperability or standardization.
What Needs to Happen Next?
To truly embed digital health into the Philippine healthcare system, we need to approach it as an evolution, not a revolution.
Here are my suggestions:
Build infrastructure that lasts — Expand rural electrification and internet access alongside health initiatives.
Design tools that work in today’s conditions — Solutions must be functional even with low bandwidth or minimal tech.
Empower health workers, don’t alienate them — Provide training, support, and clear incentives to embrace digital tools.
Foster integration, not isolation — Create national standards so that digital systems can work together, not in silos.
Embrace incremental wins — Start small, test solutions, then scale up what works.
Why This Matters
At its core, healthcare is about people — and digitalization is a means to serve people better, faster, and more fairly.
We’ve seen what happens when innovation is met with resistance — progress stalls. But we’ve also seen what happens when we accept change thoughtfully, with humility and courage — entire systems improve.
The digitalization of Philippine healthcare won’t happen overnight. But it’s not supposed to. This is an evolution — and like every meaningful evolution, it must begin with understanding, patience, and vision.
Let’s make digital healthcare not just a buzzword, but a bridge — one that connects people to care, data to action, and technology to real human outcomes.
If you're working in health tech, public health, or community development, I’d love to hear how you're facing or embracing these challenges. Let’s exchange ideas — the future of Filipino healthcare depends on all of us.
Kalusugan pangkalahatan.
