History of Medical Technology Profession & Laws

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the history of Medical Technology, pioneer figures, professional organizations (PAMET & PASMETH), R.A. 5527, clinical laboratory regulations (R.A. 4688, A.O. 59 s. 2001), and blood banking laws (R.A. 1517, R.A. 7719).

Medical Technology (R.A. 5527)

An auxiliary branch of laboratory medicine which deals with the examination by various chemical, microscopic, bacteriologic and other medical laboratory procedures or technique which will aid the physician in the diagnosis, study and treatment of disease and in the promotion of health in general.

Pathologist (R.A. 5527)

A duly registered physician who is specially trained in methods of laboratory medicine, of the gross and microscopic study and interpretation of tissues, secretions and excretions of the human body and its functions in order to diagnose disease, follows its course, determine the effectivity of treatment, ascertain cause of death and advance medicine by means of research.

Medical Technologist (R.A. 5527)

A person who engages in the work of medical technology under the supervision of a pathologist or licensed physician authorized by the Department of Health in places where there is no pathologist and who having passed a prescribed course (Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology/Bachelor of Science in Hygiene) of training and examination is registered under the provision of this Act.

Medical Technician (R.A. 5527)

A person who not being a graduate of Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology/Bachelor of Science in Hygiene, but having passed the corresponding civil service examination, performs the work of medical technology under the supervision of a registered medical technologist and/or qualified pathologist.

Accredited Medical Technology Training Laboratory

A clinical laboratory, office, agency, clinic, hospital sanitarium duly approved by the Department of Health or its authorized agency.

Recognized School of Medical Technology

Any school, college or university which offers a course in Medical Technology approved by the Department of Education in accordance with the requirements under R.A. 5527, upon recommendation of the Council of Medical Technology Education.

Council of Medical Technology Education

The agency established under R.A. 5527 tasked to recommend minimum required curriculum, prescribe student numbers, approve MT schools, and certify students for internship.

Board of Examiners for Medical Technology

The body established under R.A. 5527 composed of a Pathologist chairman (from PSP) and two Registered Medical Technologist members (from PAMET) appointed by the President of the Philippines.

Hippocrates

Greek physician known as the father of scientific medicine who adopted the triad of regimen in treating diseases with the use of drugs, surgery, and bloodletting in 460 BC.

Ebers Papyrus

A book dating back to 1550 BC that describes the treatment of diseases and the three stages of hookworm infection.

Vivian Herrick

Demonstrated in 1550 BC the incidence of intestinal parasitic infection caused by Ascaris lumbricoides and Taenia species.

Avenzoar

An Arabian physician who proved that scabies is caused by parasites.

Anton van Leeuwenhoek

Seventeenth-century scientist who invented the first functional crude microscope and was the first to observe and describe red blood cells.

Marcello Malpighi

Considered the Father of pathology and histology.

Rudolf Virchow

Recognized as the father of microscopic pathology and the first scientist to emphasize the study of manifestations of diseases and infections.

Apothecaries Act of 1815

Formulated for the regulation of the practice of apothecaries throughout England and Wales, marking the beginning of regulation of the medical profession in the UK.

Herman Fehling

Performed the first quantitative test for urine sugar.

Dr. William H. Welch

Established a laboratory at Bellevue Hospital Medical College in 1878, gave the first laboratory course in Pathology in an American medical school, and became the first professor of pathology at Johns Hopkins University in 1885.

Dr. William Osler

Opened the first clinical laboratory at Johns Hopkins Hospital in 1896, where routine examinations were performed with special attention to searching for malarial parasites in blood.

Dr. James C. Todd

Wrote the 1908 book 'A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis', later retitled 'Clinical Diagnosis by Laboratory Methods' with Dr. Arthur Sanford, which became the standard reference for laboratories.

26th Medical Infantry of the 6th US Army

The US Army unit that introduced Medical Technology practice in the Philippines at Quiricada St., Sta. Cruz, Manila at the end of World War II.

Dr. Alfredo Pio de Roda

Organized the Public Health Laboratory on October 1, 1945 with Dr. Mariano Icasiano and initiated medical technician training in 1947 with Dr. Prudencia C. Sta. Ana.

Dr. Jesse Umali

The first graduate of B.S. Medical Technology from Philippine Union College in 1956, who later became an OB-Gynecologist and owner of Omega Laboratory.

PASMETH

Philippine Association of Schools of Medical Technology and Public Health, Inc.; the national organization of all registered schools of medical technology in the Philippines, established May 13, 1970.

PAMET

Philippine Association of Medical Technologists; the national organization of all registered Medical Technologists in the Philippines, organized on September 15, 1963.

Crisanto Gomez Almario

Recognized as the 'Father of PAMET' who organized the Philippine Association of Medical Technologists on September 15, 1963.

R.A. 5527 Approval Date and Signatories

Approved on June 21, 1969 during the Marcos Administration; signed by Senate President Gil J. Puyat, Secretary of Senate Eliseo M. Tenza, Speaker of the House J.B. Laurel Jr., Secretary of the House Inocencio B. Pareja, and President Ferdinand E. Marcos.

Section 6 of R.A. 5527 (Minimum Required Course)

Mandates that the Medical Technology course shall be at least 4 years and include a 12-month satisfactory internship in accredited laboratories.

Section 14 Exemptions (R.A. 5527)

Exempts duly registered physicians, foreign medical technologists called for consultation or as visiting/exchange professors, and US Armed Forces MTs stationed in the Philippines from securing a Certificate of Registration.

Section 15 of R.A. 5527 (Examination Notice)

Requires written notices of the annual licensure examination to be published in at least 3 newspapers of national circulation at least 30 days prior to the examination date.

Section 17 Relative Weights of Subjects

Clinical Chemistry (20%), Microbiology and Parasitology (20%), Hematology (20%), Blood Banking and Serology (20%), Clinical Microscopy (10%), and Histopathologic Techniques (10%).

Section 19 Examination Rating Criteria

Requires a general average of at least 75% in the written test, no rating below 50% in any major subjects, and not having failed in at least 60% of the subjects computed according to their relative weights.

Refresher Course (R.A. 5527 Section 19)

A mandatory 12-month course in an accredited MT school or 12-month hospital externship required for applicants who have failed the Board Examination for the third time.

Section 22 Fees (R.A. 5527)

50 Php for examination and registration; 25 Php for issuance of COR without examination; 10 Php for issuance of new certificate.

Section 23 Grounds for Refusal to Issue COR

Conviction by a court of competent jurisdiction of any offense involving immoral or dishonorable conduct, unsound mind, or incurable communicable disease.

Section 24 Administrative Investigation Rules

Administrative investigations conducted by at least 2 Board members with 1 legal officer; suspension requires majority vote (max 2 years); revocation requires unanimous vote of all 3 Board members.

Section 27 Foreign Reciprocity

Prohibits admitting foreigners to examinations or granting certificates unless their home country/state permits Filipino Medical Technologists to practice on the same basis.

R.A. 6138

An amendment to R.A. 5527 approved on August 31, 1970, which amended Sections 16, 21, and 22.

P.D. 498

A Presidential Decree amending R.A. 5527 approved on June 28, 1974, which amended Sections 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 11, 13, 16, 17, 21, and 29.

P.D. 1534

A Presidential Decree amending R.A. 5527 approved on June 11, 1978, which amended Sections 3, 8, and 13.

R.A. 4688 (Clinical Laboratory Act of 1966)

Approved June 18, 1966 with 8 sections; mandates that any person, firm, or corporation operating a clinical laboratory shall register and secure a license annually at the office of the Secretary of Health.

Administrative Order No. 59 s. 2001

Approved November 19, 2001; composed of 13 sections detailing the rules and regulations governing the establishment, operation, and maintenance of clinical laboratories in the Philippines.

Clinical Laboratory Classifications by Function

Classified into Clinical Pathology (e.g., chemistry, hematology, microbiology) and Anatomic Pathology (e.g., surgical pathology, cytology).

Clinical Laboratory Classifications by Service Capability

Categorized into Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary service capability levels.

R.A. 1517 (Blood Bank Law of 1956)

Approved June 16, 1956; established initial national guidelines in setting up commercial blood banks.

R.A. 7719 (National Blood Services Act of 1994)

Approved May 5, 1994 under President Fidel V. Ramos; phased out commercial blood banks, promoted voluntary blood donation, and established non-profit blood service networks.

Walking Blood Donor

An individual included in a list of qualified voluntary blood donors ready to donate blood when needed in their community.

NVBSP Funding Sources

Funded through government budgetary allocations, at least P25M from PCSO, at least P25M from PAGCOR, at least P20M from Duty Free Philippines, and civic donations.

Section 12 Penalties of R.A. 7719

Operating an unlicensed blood bank carries 12-20 years imprisonment or a fine of P50,000-P500,000; dispensing TTD-contaminated blood carries 10 years imprisonment.

Charlemagne T. Tamondong

First PAMET President ('Emergence of the Profession') who served 3 consecutive terms and led the approval of House Bill No. 7682 on May 10, 1965.

Nardito D. Moraleta

Second PAMET President ('Professional Recognition') and 'Father of the Profession' who worked for the approval of RA 5527 and registered PAMET with IAMLT.

Felix E. Asprer

Third PAMET President ('Legislative Agenda') who served for 5 years, worked for PD 498 approval, and accomplished PAMET accreditation with the PRC in 1975.

Romeo Joseph J. Ignacio

PAMET President (2013-2015) who filed Med Tech House Bill 3502 to upgrade MT salary from Salary Grade 11 to 15.