History of Medical Technology

Education in the Philippines

Roel R. Guinto Jr., RMT
Aeron John Legaspi, RMT
World war II (WWII): January 9, 1945

• 26th medical infantry of 6th US army established the 1st clinical

laboratory in the Philippines at Quiricada St., Sta. Cruz Manila now
knows as Manila Public Health Laboratory
June 1943

• US Army left and endorsed the said laboratory to National DOH

which eventually was made non-operational.
October 1, 1945

• Dr. Pio de Roda and Dr. Mariano Icasiano (assistant) re-opened

Manila public laboratory.
1947

• Training for high school and paramedical graduates was offered by

Dr. Pio de Roda and Dr. Prudencia Sta. Ana.
1954

• 6 months laboratory training was offered and eventually formal

education of Medical Technology in the Philippines began.

• Dr. Sta. Ana prepared the syllabus for the training program.
Mrs. Willa Hilgert Hedrick

• Founder of Medical Technology Education in the Philippines.

• American medical practitioner and missionary of Seventh Day

Adventist Church of the Philippines.
1954

• Philippine Union College of Baesa, Caloocan (Adventist University

of the Philippines) & Manila Sanitarium offered 1st BSMT course.
1956

• After 2 years, PUC produced the 1st BSMT graduate

• Dr. Jesse Umali- OB-GYNE, owner of Megalab located in Vito Cruz,
Manila.
1957-58

• UST Pharmacy department faculty Dr. Antonio Gabriel and Dr.

Gustavo Reyes offered MedTech as elective subject to 4th year and
5th year pharmacy students.

• Rev. Fr. Lorenzo Rodriguez (President of UST) offered it as a full

course because of the popularity of Medical Technology among
pharmacy students.
Rev. Fr. Lorenzo Rodriguez
June 17, 1957

• DepEd issued temporary permit for 1st to 3rd year in UST.

June 1960

• Internship permit program was issued to UST.

June 14, 1961

• 4 year BSMT course was fully recognized in UST.

1962

• CEU produced its 1st batch of BSMT graduates. Through the effort
of Mrs. Purificacion Sunico-Suaco and approved by CEU President
Carmen de Luna
Carmen de Luna
July 5, 1962

• Bureau of Education approved the BSMT course in FEU through

efforts of Dr. Horacio A. Ylagan and Dr. Serafin Juliano approved
by Dean IM Dr. Lauro H. Panganiban and Secretary of IM, Dr. Jesus
B. Nolasco.
1982

• St. Paul College offered BSMT course CHED.

• 73 Colleges and Universities as to date offering BSMT courses in
the Philippines according to CHED.

• BS in Public Health- similar course to BSMT; offered to in

University of the Philippines.

• Master’s in Medical Technology- Post-Grad studies offered in

University of Sto. Tomas, Manila Central University and Philippines
Women’s University.

• Master’s in Public Health- one year non-thesis degree offered by

University of the Philippines.
 Philippine Association of School of Medical
Technology & Public Health (PASMETH)

• PASMETH is the national organization of all recognized schools of

Medical Technology in the Philippines.

• It was formed in 1970 in the hopes of maintaining the highest

standards of Medical Technology/Public Health education and to
foster closer relations among these schools.
May 13, 1970

• Director Narciso Albarracin appointed Dr. Serafin Juliano and Dr.

Gustavo U. Reyes to organize an association of Deans/Heads of
Schools of Medical Technology and Hygiene.
June 22, 1970

• The first organizational meeting was held at the University of

Santo Tomas.

The first sets of officers were:

1. President- Dr. Gustavo Reyes
2. Vice-President- Dr. Serafin Juliano
3. Secretary/Treasurer- Dr. Velia Trinidad
4. Press Relations Officer- Dr. Faustino Sunico
May 17, 1971

• The first annual meeting was held at the University of Santo

Tomas
• The first set of officers was re-elected for a second term on April
30, 1972. For the school year 1972-1973, the elected officers
were:

1. President- Dr. Gustavo Reyes

2. Vice-President- Dr. Claro Cabrera
3. Secretary/Treasurer- Dr. Elvira Silva
4. Press Relations Officer- Dr. Dr. Faustino Sunico
Others who served as PASMETH presidents were:

1. Dr. Ibarra Panopio (1973-1974)

2. Dr. Angelita G. Adeva (1974-1977)
3. Dr. Elizabeth M. del Rio (1977-1980)
4. Dr. Gustavo Reyes (1980-1981)
5. Dr. Claro D. Cabrera (1981-1982)
6. Dr. Elizabeth M. del Rio (1982-1983)
7. Dr. Norma V. Lerma (1983-1984)
8. Dr. Vicencio T. Torres (1984-1985)
9. Prof. Nardito Moraleta (1985-1988)
10. Dean Norma N. Chang (1988-1995)
11. Prof. Rodolfo R. Rabor (1996-2000)
12. Dean Nini F. Lim (2000-2002)
13. Dean Zenaida C. Cajucom (2002 up to present)
Dean Nini F. Lim
Medical Technology Curriculum

CHED initially issued memorandum order No. 8 series 1998

Re: Updated Policies and Standards for Medical Technology
Education which states the different requirements needed by an
institution when offering Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science
program.

The CMO above were the primary bases of different schools offering
medical laboratory science education.
Medical Technology Curicculum

CHED memorandum order no 14 series of 2006

• It includes:
• Pharmacology
• Hematology was divided into 2
• Copy of textbooks for every 15 students
• 230 hrs for Clinical Chemistry and Clinical Microscopy and Parasitology
• 150 hrs for Microbiology
• 120 hrs for Hematology
• 150 hrs for Blood banking
• 100 hrs for Histopathology
• 100 hrs for immunology
2007

Tremendous increase of enrollees in Nursing

CHED special order no 19 series of 2007

as “Benchmarking of the Curriculum on Priority Areas”.

A part of the Higher Education Development Project Activities on
improving the quality assurance system of higher education
curricula by upgrading to international standards.

This is also to make sure that the curriculum is competency-based

and is aligned with that of the local and international assessment
measures.
 PAMET
(Philippine Association of Medical Technologists)
September 15, 1963

• It was originally organized by Mr. Crisanto G. Almario at the Public

Health Laboratory in Sta. Cruz, Manila.
September 20, 1964

• It had its first convention and election of officers at the Far

Eastern University wherein Mr. Charlemagne Tamondong became
the first President.
June 21, 1969

• RA 5527 also known as the Philippine Medical Technology Act, was

enacted into law.
September 21, 1972

• President Ferdinand Marcos declared the 3rd week of September

as a celebration of the Medical Technology profession.
June 22, 1973

• PD 223 was approved creating the Professional Regulation

Commission (PRC). PAMET was officially recognized as the only
Accredited Organization (APO) of registered Medical Technologists
in the Philippines.
PAMET PRESIDENTS
PAMET LOGO

THE PAMET INSIGNIA (PAMET LOGO)

CIRCLE- Symbolizes the continuous involvement where

practice and education must always be integrated.

TRIANGLE- The trilogy of Love, Respect and Integrity.

Green letters- The color of health

Microscope and Snake- Symbolize the science of Medical

Technology profession

1964- Year of first PAMET election.

Related literature

In baguio city, Janice Lonongan

(2016) conducted a study among the
medical technologist interns and
clinical instructor. The study was
“An assessment of the career-entry
level competencies of the Bachelor
of Science in Medical Technology
Graduates of a University in Baguio
City”
According to the study, it says that the majority of the BSMT grauduates of
University of Baguio the attainment of the Medical Internship programs was
very high. Also, a very high demonstration competencies, which are:
• Professional Responsibility
• Professional Laboratory Skills
• Communication
• Teamwork
• Instrumentation
• Leadership
Further improvement on Critical thinking and Decision making
It said in the study that the medtech internship program should be enhanced by
using evaluation to help the future graduates to develop their Competency.
 Related Literature
According to Anacleta Valdez (2011), in Here in the Philippines, it features:
other countries the first 2 years of the • 4 year STRAIGHT program of BS in
course lead to a certificate program where Medical Technology
the graduates can work as phlebotomist, • No certificates or diplomas in the first 2
histotechnicians, or laboratory technician. years.
The baccalaureate program is a two year • Congestion of semestral units due to
continuation of certificate program leading general education that needs to be
to a Bachelor in science in Medical taken
Technology. • The clinical practicum takes about 1000
hours
Then then the graduates are able to take
•
examinations from ASCP, NAACLS, and etc. Licensure examination is given by the
Professional Regulatory Commission.