History of Medical Technology in the Philippines

Overview

This lecture covers the history, developments, significant events, and organizations related to the field of medical technology in the Philippines.

Opening of the Suez Canal allowed Western medical knowledge to reach the Philippines.
Spanish colonial rule established initial hospitals: Hospital Real (1565), San Lazaro Hospital (1578), San Juan de Dios Hospital (1596), and San Jose Hospital (1641).
University of Santo Tomas (UST) was founded in 1611; opened pharmacy and medicine faculties in 1871.
Early scientific journals included Bulletin de Medicina de Manila and Revista Pharmaceutica de Filipinas.
Central Board of Vaccination started in 1806; provincial medical officers appointed from 1876.
Laboratorio Municipal de Manila founded in 1887 for food, water, and clinical analysis; General Antonio Luna contributed to lab practices.

Spanish military hospital converted to the First Reserve Hospital in 1898, introducing early diagnostic labs.
Bureau of Government Laboratories established in 1901 under Act 156, focusing on vaccines and analytical services.
Bureau of Health formed in 1915, reorganized into Philippine Health Service, reverted back by 1933.
U.P. College of Public Health launched a public health certificate in 1927.

During WWII, U.S. military set up the 26th Medical Laboratory at Quiricada St., Santa Cruz, Manila (now Manila Public Health Laboratory).
Civilians trained as laboratory staff from 1944; program formalized and improved after the war.
Dr. Alfredo Pio de Roda and Dr. Mariano Icasiano reorganized the Manila Public Health Laboratory post-WWII.

First four-year B.S. in Medical Technology offered by Manila Sanitarium and Philippine Union College (1954).
University of Santo Tomas, Centro Escolar University, Far Eastern University, and institutions in Mindanao and Visayas began offering med tech programs from late 1950s through the 1960s.
Republic Acts 1517 (Blood Banking Law), 4688 (Clinical Laboratory Act), and 5527 (Medical Technology Act) established regulations and standards.

PAMET (Philippine Association of Medical Technologists) founded in 1964; recognized as the official professional organization in 1973.
PASMETH (Philippine Association of Schools of Medical Technology and Public Health) formed in 1970 for academic institutions.
Philippine Society for Microbiology and Infectious Diseases organized in 1972.
Further curriculum developments, including the change to BMLS (Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science) in 2006, and accreditation/advanced training programs followed.

Medical Technology — The field concerned with laboratory procedures to diagnose, treat, and prevent diseases.
PAMET — Official professional body for registered medical technologists in the Philippines.
PASMETH — Professional association of medical technology schools and colleges.
BMLS — Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science, replacing the old BS Medical Technology degree.
RA 5527 — Philippine Medical Technology Act of 1969, regulating the profession.