Republic Act No. 5527: Medical Technology Act of 1969

Republic Act No. 5527 Summary

• Republic Act No. 5527, amended by RA 6132, PD 498, and PD 1534, focuses on the registration of medical technologists, defining their practice, and other related purposes.
• This act is also known as the Philippine Medical Technology Act of 1969.

Definition of Terms

• Practice of Medical Technology involves rendering professional services for a fee, salary, or reward, directly or indirectly, to aid physicians in diagnosis, treatment, and health promotion.
• Examination of human tissues, secretions, excretions, and body fluids using various laboratory procedures and techniques (manual or automated) is part of medical technology practice.
• Medical technology practice also covers blood banking procedures, parasitologic, mycologic, and microbiologic procedures, as well as histopathologic and cytotechnology.
• Clinical research involving patients and the application of medical technology knowledge are included.
• The preparation, standardization of reagents, clinical laboratory quality control, and the collection/preservation of specimens are also parts of medical technology practice.
• The act does not apply to professionals regulated by existing law who perform these services incidentally.
• A Pathologist is a registered physician trained to study/interpret human tissues, secretions, and excretions to diagnose diseases, determine treatment effectiveness, ascertain the cause of death, and advance medicine through research.
• A Medical Technologist works under a pathologist or licensed physician authorized by the Department of Health and is registered under this Act, having completed a BSMT/BSH course.
• Medical Laboratory Technicians are certified and registered to assist medical technologists and pathologists in the practice of medical technology.
• An Accredited Medical Technology Training Laboratory denotes a clinical laboratory, office, agency, clinic, hospital, or sanitarium approved by the Department of Health or its authorized agency.
• A Recognized School of Medical Technology is any school, college, or university offering a Medical Technology course approved by the Department of Education.
• The Council refers to the Council of Medical Technology Education.
• The Board refers to the Board of Examiners for Medical Technology.

Council of Medical Technology Education

• The Council of Medical Technology Education consists of the Director of Higher Education (Chairman), the Chairman of the Professional Regulation Commission (Vice-Chairman).
• It also includes the Director of the Bureau of Research and Laboratories of the Department of Health, the Chairman and two members of the Board of Medical Technology.
• A representative of the Deans of Schools of Medical Technology and Public Health, and the Presidents of the Philippine Society of Pathologists and the Philippine Association of Medical Technologists, also serve as members.
• The Chairman receives P50.00 per diem for each meeting attended, while members receive P25.00 each, plus traveling expenses.

Functions of the Council of Medical Technology Education

• Recommending the minimum required curriculum for medical technology.
• Determining and prescribing the number of students allowed in each medical technology course based on student-instructor ratio and facilities.
• Approving medical technology schools that meet requirements and recommending closure of substandard ones.
• Requiring annual reports from medical technology schools, including student/instructor numbers, facilities, graduates, and new admissions.
• Inspecting medical technology schools to ensure high educational standards.
• Certifying undergraduates for internship after three years of the medical technology course and collecting P5.00 from each student for the Council's operating fund.
• Formulating and recommending refresher courses for applicants who fail the Board Examination for the third time.
• Establishing and enforcing necessary rules and regulations.

Minimum Required Course

• Includes a four-year medical technology course with a 12-month internship in accredited laboratories.
• Includes English, Spanish, Social Science, General Zoology, Botany, Mathematics, College Physics, and General/Qualitative/Quantitative Chemistry.
• Also covers Biochemistry, Gross Anatomy, Histology, Physiology, Clinical Parasitology, General Pathology, Microbiology, Biostatistics and Clinical Laboratory Methods.
• The Council can change the listed subjects with the Secretary of Education's approval, based on advancements in medical technology.

Medical Technology Board

• The Medical Technology Board is under the Professional Regulation Commission.
• The Board consists of a Chairman (a pathologist) and two registered medical technologists.
• The President of the Philippines appoints the Chairman and members upon recommendation by the Professional Regulation Commission.
• Board members hold office for three years after their appointment, or until their successors are appointed.
• In case of death, disability, or removal, a successor serves the balance of the term.

Qualifications of Examiners

• Examiners must be Filipino citizens with good moral character.
• They must be qualified Pathologists or registered medical technologists with a BSMT/BSH/BPH degree.
• Examiners need at least ten years of experience in laboratory medicine or medical technology before appointment.
• They should not be faculty members of any medical technology school for at least two years before appointment and should not have any financial interest in such institutions.
• For the first three years after the Act's approval, the experience requirement is reduced to five years.
• Each Board member receives ten pesos for each applicant examined and five pesos for each applicant granted registration without examination.

Functions and Duties of the Board

• Administering the provisions of the Act.
• Administering oaths.
• Issuing, suspending, and revoking certificates of registration for medical technologists and medical laboratory technicians.
• Examining the conditions affecting medical technology practice in the Philippines and adopting measures for maintaining good ethics and standards.
• Investigating violations of the Act, issuing subpoenas and subpoenas duces tecum.
• Drafting necessary rules and regulations.
• Determining the adequacy of technical staff in clinical laboratories and blood banks before licensing.
• Prescribing qualifications and training for medical technologists in special fields and supervising specialty examinations.
• Classifying and prescribing qualifications/training for technical staff (Medical Technology, Medical Technologist, Senior Medical Technologist, Medical Technologist and Medical Laboratory Technician).

Removal of Board Members

• The President can remove a Board member for neglect of duty, incompetency, malpractice, or unethical conduct, after an administrative investigation.
• The President can suspend the member during the investigation and appoint a temporary replacement.

Accreditation of Schools and Training Laboratories

• The Department of Education and Culture approves schools of Medical Technology based on the recommendation of the Medical Technology Board.
• The Department of Health, through the Bureau of Research and Laboratories, approves laboratories for training medical technology students, also with input from the Board.
• Laboratories must have qualified personnel and proper equipment for common laboratory procedures.
• Common laboratory procedures are: Clinical Chemistry, Microbiology, Serology, Parasitology, Hematology, Blood Banking, Clinical Microscopy, and Histopathologic techniques.

Inhibition Against the Practice of Medical Technology

• Practicing or offering medical technology requires a valid certificate of registration from the Board.
• Duly registered physicians, medical technologists from other countries (consultation/professors), and medical technologists in the US Armed Forces stationed in the Philippines are exempt as long as they are only practicing this function.

Examination Details

• Applicants for registration must undergo a written examination.
• Examinations are given annually in Manila, Cebu, and Davao in August or September.
• Notices are published in at least three newspapers of national circulation at least thirty days prior to the examination date.
• Applicants must furnish proof of good health and moral character.
• Completion of a four year BSMT/BSPH degree program from a recognized institution is necessary.
• Those having graduated from some other profession must have been actually performing medical technology for the last five (5) years prior to June 21, 1969.

Scope of Examination

• The examination covers Clinical Chemistry (20%), Microbiology & Parasitology (20%), Hematology (20%), Blood Banking & Serology (20%), and Clinical Microscopy (10%).
• Also covers Histopathologic Techniques, Cytotechnology, Medical Technology Laws, Related Laws and its implementing rules, and the Code of Ethics (10%).
• The Board prepares and submits the examination schedule to the Professional Regulation Commission for publication at least thirty days before the exam.
• The examinee average is computed based on the weights of each subject.
• The Board may change the list of subjects or weights subject to approval from the Professional Regulation Commission; amendments must be effectuated at least three months prior to the exam.

Report of Rating and Examination Rating

• The Board reports the examination results to the Commissioner of Civil Service within 120 days after completion of the examination.
• The Commissioner then submits the results to the President of the Philippines for approval.
• To pass, a candidate must obtain a general average of at least 75% in the written test.
• There must also be no rating below 50% in any of the major subjects, or failure in at least 60% of the subjects.
• Additional examinations are only given after completing a 12-month refresher course in an accredited laboratory.
• Graduates of paramedical professions other than BSMT/BSH shall only be given three opportunities to pass the exam.
• Examinees must take a professional oath before the Board prior to practicing Medical Tech in the Philippines.

Issuance of Certificate of Registration

• Every applicant who passes the examination will be issued a certificate of registration.
• No certificate shall be issued to applicants under 21 years of age.
• All certificates are signed by the Board members and the Commissioner of the Professional Regulation Commission.
• Registered medical technologists must display their certificates of registration in their workplace.
• A certificate of registration may be issued without examination to BSMT/BSPH graduates (fee of P115.00 is required).
• A certificate of registration may be issued to those who passed civil service examinations, finished a two-year college course or failed the board exam but had a general rating of 70%.
• Registrants when employed by the government shall have civil service eligibility not lower than second grade

Fees

• The Board charges examination and registration fees, and fees for certificates issued without examination, duplicate certificates etc.
• All fees are paid to the disbursing officer of the Civil Service Commission, who disburses the authorized expenses of the Board.

Refusal to Issue Certificate

• The Board will refuse to issue a certificate to someone convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude, immoral or dishonorable conduct, unsound mind, or incurable communicable disease.
• A written statement with the reason for refusal will be provided to the applicant and recorded.

Administrative Investigation

• Administrative investigations are conducted by at least two Board members and one legal officer.
• Respondents have the right to counsel, a speedy and public hearing, to confront and cross-examine witnesses.
• The Board may reprimand or suspend/revoke a medical technologist's certificate for causes in Section 29.
• Revocation requires unanimous vote; other penalties can be imposed by majority vote.
• Suspended/revoked medical technologists must surrender their certificates within 30 days, or face permanent disqualification.

Appeal

• A Board decision to revoke or suspend a certificate can be appealed Civil Service Commissioner.
• The Commissioner's decision becomes final after 30 days unless appealed to the President of the Philippines.

Reinstatement

• The Board can reissue a revoked registration certificate if deemed proper and sufficient.
• Suspended certificates are re-issued without prejudice to further actions by the Board.

Foreign reciprocity

• Foreigners can only be admitted to the examination/registration if their country allows Filipino Medical Technologists to practice within its territorial limits.

Roster of Medical Technologists

• The Secretary of the Board prepares an annual roster of Medical Technologists.
• The roster includes name, address, citizenship, registration date, and certificate issuance date.
• Rosters are public information.

Penal Provisions

• People practicing Medical Technology without registration, or MTs practicing without qualified Pathologist supervision, will be penalized. The fine is between two thousand and five thousand pesos.
• Knowingly making a fraudulent laboratory report , failing to display their registration certificate in the workplace, or giving false evidence to the Board will result in penalties.
• Other penalties may include: Using someone else's certificate, impersonating a registrant, using a revoked certificate
• Assuming a title implying one is a Medical Technologist without a certificate, or corporate bodies are also subject to penalties.
• Violating the Board’s rules and regulations will similarly result in penalties.

Separability Clause

• If any part of this Act is declared invalid, the remainder of the Act remains in effect.

Repealing Clause

• Any inconsistent acts, rules, and regulations are repealed.
• This Act does not repeal/amend the Medical Act of 1959, the Clinical Laboratory Act of 1966, and the Blood Banking Law of 1956.

Effectivity

• This Act took effect upon its approval on June 21, 1969.

Summary of Republic Act No. 5527, also known as the Philippine Medical Technology Act of 1969. Covers the registration of medical technologists and defines their scope of practice. Includes definitions of key terms related to medical technology practice, such as examination of human tissues and clinical research.