MTLB: RA 5527

• Law that governs the practice of Medical Technology in the Philippines: "Philippine Medical Technology Act of 1969"
• Primary Purpose of RA 5527: Ensure that the professional service of licensed individuals in order to protect the health and physical welfare of the public from the risk caused by the unlicensed practice.
• RA 2257 is summarized into 3 parts: 1. The training, 2. The practice, 3. The examination
• RA 5527 consists of 32 sections
• RA 5527 Section 1: Title - "Philippine Medical Technology Act of 1969". An act acquiring the registration of Medical Technologists, defining their practice and other purposes. It was approved on June 21, 1969. Signed by, former president Ferdinand E. Marcos (August 14, 1969).
• RA 5527 Section 3: Council of Medical Technology

  • Chairman: Secretary of Education or Director of Private Education
  • Vice Chairman: Director of Bureau of Research and Laboratories of DOH
  • Members: 7 members in total (1 chairman, 2 members of the board of medtech, 1 dean of the institute of health of UP, 1 representative of the deans of heads of the private schools of medical technology, 1 president of PAMET, 1 president of PSP)
  • Function: for the education of students of medical technology program
• RA 5527 Section 4: Compensation and Traveling Expenses of Council Members - The chairman and members of the council shall be entitled to a 25 pesos per diem for every meeting actually attended.

  • Maximum of 2 MEETINGS ONLY IN A MONTH
  • Officials receiving regular salaries from the government shall not receive per diem.
• Functions of the Council of Medical Technology Education: to recommend minimum required curriculum
• Functions of the Council of Medical Technology Education: Determine and prescribe the number of students, account the student-instructor ratio, and the availability of facilities for instruction
• Functions of the Council of Medical Technology Education: Approve medical technology schools meeting the requirements and recommend closure to substandard ones
• Functions of the Council of Medical Technology Education: Require all medical technology schools to submit an annual report by June
• Functions of the Council of Medical Technology Education: Inspect and determine if a high standard of education is maintained
• Functions of the Council of Medical Technology Education: Certify students who have completed three years of the course for admission into an undergraduate internship, with a payment of 5 pesos for the council's operating fund
• Functions of the Council of Medical Technology Education: Formulate and recommend approval of refresher courses for applicants who have failed the board examination for the 3rd time (valid for two years with 4 schedules of examination)
• RA 5527 Section 6: Minimum Required Course - At least 4 years of MEDTECH course

  • 12 months satisfactory internship
  • Subjects: English, Spanish (some), socsi, general zoology, botany, mathematics, college physics, general chemistry, qualitative chemistry, quantitative chemistry, biochemistry, gross anatomy, histology, physiology, clinical parasitology, general pathology, microbiology, biostatistics, clinical laboratory methods (hematology, serology, blood banking,, clinical microscopy, applied microbiology parasitology, histopathologic techniques, and cytotechnology)
• RA 5527 Section 7: Board of Examiners of Medical Technology - The board shall be composed of the following members: 1. Pathologist (Chairman) for 3 years 2. 2 Members who are registered medical technologists should serve for 1 member for 2 years and the third member for 1 year. Both the chairman and members are appointed by the President of the Philippines.

  • In 1969, their service had expiration and they were not allowed for re-appointment
  • no member shall be allowed for more than 1 reappointment
• RA 5527 Section 8: Qualifications of Examiners

  • Filipino Citizen
  • Good moral character
  • Qualified pathologists/ registered medical technologists with a degree in BSMT/BSH
  • Has been in practice for at least 10 years prior to his appointment
  • Is not a member of the faculty of any medical technology school or have any pecuniary interest, direct or indirect, in such institution.
• What are the board of medical technology composed of?

  Pathologist (Chairman), 2 registered medtech members
• The president of the Philippines shall fill the vacancy may occur, but appointee shall serve only the unexpired term of the incapacitated member.
• Current Board of Medical Technology as of 2024


  Chairman: Dr. Marilyn A. Cabal-Barza, Member: Dr. Leila Lany M. Florento
• How long should a registered medtech be in service before being appointed as part of the board of medical technology?

  10 years prior the appointment
• RA 5527 Section 9: Executive Officer of the Board - In the time of 1969, the Commissioner of Civil Service shall be the "

  executive officer of the board" and shall conduct the examinations given by it.

  • While, the Secretary of the Board Examiners (appointed in accordance with Section 10, Act No. 4007) shall keep a register of all persons to whom certificates of registration have been granted.
• In the time of 1969, the Medical Technologist Licensure Examination was conducted by which government agency?


  COMMISSIONER OF CIVIL SERVICE
• Section 2: Definition of Terms

  • Medical Technology - auxiliary branch of laboratory medicine that deals with the examinations by various chemical [clinical chemistry], microscopic, bacteriologic, and other medical laboratory procedures or techniques.
  • Pathologist - a registered physician who is specially trained in methods of laboratory medicine, or the gross and microscopic study and interpretation of tissues, secretion, and excretions of the human body
• Section 2: Definition of Terms

  • Medical Technologist - a person who engages in the work of medical technology under the supervision of a Pathologist or licensed physician authorized by the DOH.
  • Medical Technician - A person who not being a graduate of Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology/Bachelor of Science in Hygiene, but has passed the corresponding civil service examination, performs the work of medical technology under the supervision of a registered medical technologist.
• According to RA 5527, in 1969, a clinical laboratory, office, agency, clinic, hospital, or sanitarium duly approved by the DOH or its authorized agency.
• Who shall keep a register of all persons to whom certificated of registration have been granted?

  The Secretary of Board Examiners
• RA 5527 Section 10: Compensation of Members of the Board of Examiners for Medical Technology

  • Each member of the board shall receive as P10 for each applicant examined and P5 for each applicant granted a certificate of registration without examination
  • It is possible before to acquire a certificate of registration without examination based on the years of experience.
• RA 5527 Section 11: Functions and Duties of the Board

  • Administer the provision of this act
  • Administer oaths in connection with the administration of this act
  • Issue, suspend, and revoke certificates of registration
  • Investigation of such violations of this Act or of the rules and regulations; issued subpoena and subpoena duces tecum
  • Subpoena ad testificandum: invitation to be a witness
  • Draft such rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the provision of this act
• RA 5527 Section 12: Removal of the Board

  • Any member of the board may be removed by the President of the Philippines for the ff. reasons:

  1. Neglect of duty
  2. Incompetency
  3. Malpractice/ unprofessional
  4. Unethical
  5. Immoral/dishonorable conduct

  • After the opportunity to defend himself
  • The President shall have the power to suspend and appoint a temporary member
• RA 5527 Section 13: Accreditation of Schools of Medical Technology and of Training Laboratories - DepEd or the authorized agency shall upon recommendation of the council of medtech education approve laboratories for accreditation as training laboratories for Medical Technology students. Required field are: Bacteriology, serology, parasitology, hematology, biochemistry.
• RA5527 Section 14: Inhibition Against the Practice of Medical Technology: No person shall practice medical technology without a certificate of registration previously obtained from the Board. The registration shall not be required of the following:

  • duly registered physician
  • Medtech from other countries (call in consultations or exchange professors: provided that they are only allowed to work in the academe)
  • MEDTECH in the service of the United States Armed Forces stationed in the Philippines rendering services as such for members of the said forces only.
• Can MEDTECH in the service of US Armed Forces stationed in the Philippines render services in the Philippines if they work in public hospotals?

  False (They need to receive a certificate of registration from the Board)
• RA 5527 Section 15: Examination

  • Written examination shall be given by the board in the ff. location: Greater Manila Area, Cebu, and Davao
  • Before, examination is given during the month of August or September (once a year only)
  • Today, examinations are given twice a year March and August (either weekday or weekends)
  • Written notices of such examination shall be published in at least 3 newspaper of national circulation by the secretary if the board at least 30 days prior to the date of examination
• RA 5527 Section 16: Qualification of Examination - Every applicant for examination shall be:

  • in good health and is of good moral character
  • Completed a course of at least 4 years and have a degree of BSMT/BSH
  • Other paramedical professions who are performing medtech for the last 5 years prior to enactment of this act shall meet the minimum requirement exceeding 1 year undergraduate internship or practical training.
• RA 5527 Section 17: Scope of Examination - The examinations questions shall cover the following subjects with their perspective relative weights:FIRST DAY

  • Clinical Chemistry: 10%
• RA 5527 Section 17: Scope of Examination - The examinations questions shall cover the following subjects with their perspective relative weights: FIRST DAY

  • Clinical Chemistry: 10%
• RA 5527 Section 17: Scope of Examination - The examination questions shall cover the following subjects with their perspective relative weights:

  FIRST DAY

  • Clinical Chemistry: 20%
  • Microbiology and Parasitology: 20%
  • Clinical Microscopy (Analysis of Urine and Body Fluids): 10%

  SECOND DAY

  • Hematology: 20%
  • Blood Banking: 20%
  • Histopath Techniques/Cytotechnology/Medical Technology Laws/Related Laws and Implementing Rules/ Code of Ethics: 10%

  
  

  • Those who have 20% are major subjects
  • Once you reached 75% average, but one of your major subjects scored 45% you are considered failed
• What are the major subjects in the exam?

  Clinical Chemistry, Microbiology & Parasitology, Hematology, Blood Banking
• RA 5527 Section 18: Reporting of Rating - In the time of 1969, it will take 120 days after the completion of examination to report the result to the Commissioner of Civil Service who shall submit the result to the President of te Philippines for approval.

  • Now, this section is no longer controlling since the PRC modernization act of 2000 dictates that it will only take 3-10 days before the result.