Philippine Medical Technology Act of 1969

Practice of Medical Technology = A person shall be deemed to be in the practice of medical technology within the meaning of this Act, who shall for a fee, salary or other compensation or reward paid or given directly or indirectly through another, renders any of the following professional services for the purpose of aiding the physician in the diagnosis, study and treatment of diseases and in the promotion of health in general:

1. Examination of tissues, secretions and excretions of the human body and body fluids by various electronic, chemical, microscopic, bacteriologic, hematologic, serologic, immunologic, nuclear, and other laboratory procedures and techniques either manual or automated;
2. Blood banking procedures and techniques; 3. Parasitologic, Mycologic and Microbiologic procedures and techniques;
3. Histopathologic and Cytotechnology; provided that nothing in this paragraph shall inhibit a duly registered medical laboratory technician from performing histopathologic techniques and procedures.
4. Clinical research involving patients or human beings requiring the use of and/or application of medical technology knowledge and procedures;
5. Preparations and standardization of reagents, standards, stains and others, provided such reagents, standards, stains and others are exclusively for the use of their laboratory;
6. Clinical laboratory quality control;
7. Collection and preservation of specimens

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 the 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.

The Board of Medical Technology was created in 1970 pursuant to Republic Act 5527 also known as the “Philippine Medical Technology Act of 1969.” The law recognized medical technology as a profession and defined the practice of medical technology, subject to the registration and regulation policies of government.

The first Board was composed of Dr. Arturo D. Tolentino, Jr. as Chairman and Mr. Felix E. Asprer and Ms. Azucena S. J. Vizconde as Members. The Board administered the first examination for Medical Technology in September 1970, where only twenty-five percent of the examinees passed.

In order to upgrade the quality of graduates, the Board established mutual relations with the Philippine Association of Schools of Medical Technology and Hygiene (PASMETH) in developing and updating the course syllabi to improve the performance of schools in the licensure examinations.

Through the years, the Board has ensured that medical technologists are able to perform the responsibility of aiding physicians in the diagnosis, study and treatment of diseases and in the promotion of health in general.

With the impending liberalization of trade in services, the Board actively participates in the Consultative Meetings of PRC regarding the ASEAN Negotiations on Services and Mutual Recognition Agreement. It coordinates with the Philippine Association of Medical Technologists (PAMET) and other CPE providers to improve the professional skills and values systems of professionals and to adopt the latest technological developments in their field.

Today, medical technologists are serving in hospital and free-standing laboratories, clinics, pharmaceutical companies, schools, food and cosmetic industries here and abroad.

Republic Act No. 5527 
“Medical Technology Law”

Section 1. Title.— This Act may be also cited as the Philippine Medical Technology Act of 1969.

Section 2. Definition of Terms.— As used in this Act, the following terms shall mean:

a. Practice of Medical Technology – A person shall be deemed to be in the practice of medical technology within the meaning of this Act, who shall for a fee, salary or other compensation or reward paid or given directly or indirectly through another, renders any of the following professional services for the purpose of aiding the physician in the diagnosis, study and treatment of diseases and in the promotion of health in general:

1. Examination of tissues, secretions and excretions of the human body and body fluids by various electronic, chemical, microscopic, bacteriologic, hematologic, serologic, immunologic, nuclear, and other laboratory procedures and techniques either manual or automated;

    

2. Blood banking procedures and techniques;

    

3. Parasitologic, Mycologic and Microbiologic procedures and techniques;

    

4. Histopathologic and Cytotechnology; provided that nothing in this paragraph shall inhibit a duly registered medical laboratory technician from performing histopathologic techniques and procedures.

    

5. Clinical research involving patients or human beings requiring the use of and/or application of medical technology knowledge and procedures;

    

6. Preparations and standardization of reagents, standards, stains and others, provided such reagents, standards, stains and others are exclusively for the use of their laboratory;

    

7. Clinical laboratory quality control;

    

8. Collection and preservation of specimens; Provided, That any person who has passed the corresponding Board examination for the practice of a profession already regulated by existing law, shall not be subject to the provisions of the last four preceding paragraphs if the performance of such acts or services is merely incidental to his profession.

Philippine Association of Medical Technologists (PAMET)

Unit 1720, 17th floor
Cityland 10, Tower II
6817 Ayala Avenue cor. Dela Costa St.
Makati City
Tel. No.:  817-1487 
Fax:  812-6819
Website: http://www.pamet.org
Re-accredited:  Res. No. 2008-431 dated Feb. 27, 2008
 

The Philippine Association of Medical Technologists (PAMET) is the national organization of all registered Medical Technologists in the Philippines.

The association was organized by Mr. Crisanto G. Almario, recognized as the “Father of PAMET,” who sought to standardize the profession and improve and upgrade the practice. After the initial pre-organizational planning and conceptualization, PAMET was born on September 15, 1963 at the Public Health Laboratory at 208 Quiricada St., Sta. Cruz, Manila.

Through the efforts of PAMET under its president, Charlemagne T. Tamondong, Republic Act No. 5527, otherwise known as the “Philippine Medical Technology Act,” was enacted on June 21, 1969.

PAMET was registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 14, 1969 and was accredited by the PRC as the professional organization of medical technologists on July 15, 1975. PAMET was registered with the International Association of Medical Laboratory Technologists (IAMLT) in 1970 and gained membership in the ASEAN Association of Medical Laboratory Technologists (AAMLT) in 1985.

PAMET hosted the 2nd ASEAN in Medical Laboratory Technologists (ACMLT) in Manila in 1986 where the AAMLT Constitution and By-laws were adopted. In 1989, during the 3rd ACMLT in Singapore, Carmencita Acedera was elected to the AAMLT presidency. PAMET hosted the 7th ACMLT, which was held at PICC on December 1-6, 1997. During the 8th ACMLT in Brunei Darussalam, PAMET President Norma Chang was elected President of AAMLT from September 1999 to year 2002.

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