CHAPTER 2 House Bill 3502

MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY ACT OF 1969 - An amendment of the Medical Technology Act of 2011
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 5527
Medical Technology Act of 2011
- An act which contains the provisions for the
Improvement of the status of all medical technologists
INTRODUCTION
in terms of competencies or skills.
Laws
- represented by Republic Acts, Presidential Decrees,
and Executive Orders CONCEPT OF LAW AND THE PROVISIONS OF R.A. 5527
- enacted for the benefit of the general public or the
Law
different sectors of society
- a set of rules or orders imposed on all members of the
Republic Act No. 5527 community
- embodies the definition of the profession, as well as its - they are recognized, binding, and enforceable on an
registration, functions, responsibilities, coverage, and individual by an organization or a group of individuals
limitations who are authorized to implement such
- existence: since 45 years - are the regulatory systems of social relations
- since President Ferdinand Marcos signed it

Has been amended several times = due to continuous Republic Act or Presidential Decree
modernization - one governing rule or order in professional practice
- can later be amended for the benefit of those who will
RA 6138 Aug 31, 1970 Secs 16, 21, and 22
be protected by such an amendment.
PD 498 June 28, 1974 Secs 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 11,
13, 21, and 29 RA 5527
PD 1534 June 11, 1978 Sections 3, 8, and 13 - law that governs the practice of the medical
technology profession
- Name: An Act Requiring the Registration of Medical
Medical Technology Act of 2011
Technologists, Defining their Practice and Other
- proposed: Senator Edgardo Angara
Purposes
- repealed existing law
- divided into three parts: preliminary, functional,
- goal: aims to improve the status of all medical
concluding provisions
technologists in the Philippines in terms of salary and
competency, bringing Filipino medical technologists
onpar with those of the other nations in the world
Important legal concepts in field of professional
practice
December 4, 2013 1. Prevailing laws and source or origin
- Representative Leopoldo N. Bataoil of the 2nd district - The law is existing at present, enveloping the
of Pangasinan practice of professional endeavors
- during the first regular session of the Sixteenth
Congress 2. Offense and legal responsibility
- proposed another amendment under House Bill 3502 - Laws are enacted and are accompanied by the
appropriate offense for violations or infractions
- mandatory for the individual concerned to
KEYWORDS render obedience to existing law
- people are duty-bound to assume the
Amendment
responsibilities over any action they take or
- A process of revising, modifying, or changing the
commit
provisions of a law or bill
 3. Laws and orders, sanctions, system of laws,
and legality of action
- concept pertains to the fact that a law is a set
of rules or orders
- Nobody is above the law.
- Laws govern and treat all people fairly and
impartially
- Any violation of laws may be reprimanded and
sanctioned
- laws are rules that prescribe directions for
conduct in any situation
RA vs PD vs EO vs SB
Republic Act
- a piece of legislation enacted as a policy that may
govern the conduct and behavior of an individual or
group of persons and uphold the principles of the
Constitution
- concept: process of making policies for the betterment
of the people's status and relations in society
- a law that is enacted for a certain group of working
professionals like medical technologists
- consists of specific policies that should be observed
- usually drafted by the Congress and approved by the
President of the Philippines
- can also be repealed by the Congress
Presidential Decree
- connotes the judgement of the judge
- concept: proclamations of the legal consequence of
the facts or actions in connection with the professional
practice of medical technology carried out or decided by
the court in its finality
- P.D. 498 = the Second amendment done to RA 5527
= certain provisions of RA 527 have been
amended
= products of the court's decision
Executive Order
- contains the president's directives implementing or
interpreting certain constitutional provisions or treaties
- the legal language of the President of the Republic of
the Philippines who usually issues policies to avoid
public or political debate and opposition.
- EO 200 = institutionalized the full computerization of
the
Medical Technology Licensure Examination by various
regulatory boards and under the supervision of the
Professional Regulation Commission
Senate Bill
- a piece of proposed legislation that has been issued or
was modified by the Congress or the Senate
- can become a law after its passage by:
1. the Senate
2. the House of Representatives
3. the approval of the President of the Philippines
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 5527
PRELIMINARY PROVISIONS
may also be cited as the Philippine Medical Technology
Act of1969
Terms
Medical Technology
- an auxiliary branch of laboratory medicine which deals
with the examination by various chemical, microscopic,
bacteriologic and other medical laboratory procedures
or techniques
- which will aid the physician in the diagnosis, study and
treatment of disease and in the promotion of health in
general.
Pathologist
- A duly registered physician who is specially trained in
methods of laboratory medicine, of the gross and
microscopic study and interpretation of tissues,
secretions and excretions of the human body and its
functions
- in order to diagnose disease, follow its course,
determine the effectivity of treatment, ascertain cause
of death and advance medicine by means of research.
Medical Technologist
- 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 a 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.
Medical Technician
- A person who, not being a graduate of Bachelor of
Science in Medical Technology/Bachelor of Science in
Hygiene,
- but having passed the corresponding civil service
examination, performs the work of medical technology
under the supervision of a registered medical
technologist and/or qualified pathologist.
Accredited Medical Technology Training Laboratory
- A clinical laboratory, office, agency, clinic, hospital
sanitarium duly approved by the Department of Health
or its authorized agency.
Recognized School of Medical Technology
- Any school, college or university which offers a course
in Medical Technology approved by the Department of
Education in accordance with the requirements under
this Act,upon recommendation of the Council of
Medical Technology Education;
Council
- The Council of Medical Technology Education
established under this Act.
Board
- The Board Of Examiners for Medical Technology
established under this Act (Definition of Terms in
Section 2, 5527).
FUNCTIONAL PROVISIONS
Functional Provisions
- pertain to:
1. the policies or orders creating a council of medical
technology,
2. the minimum required courses,
3. composition,
4. functions,
5. Qualifications
6. removal of the board of examiners,
7. examination coverage, and
8. foreign reciprocity
Section 3, RA 5527
Council of Medical Technology Education, Its
Composition
Council
- referred to established a Council of Medical
Technology Education
Compositions
Chairman - Secretary of Education or Director of
Private Education
Vice- Director of the Bureau of Research and
Chairman Laboratories of the Department of
Health
Members - Chairman
- Two members of the Board of
Medical Technology,
- Dean Of the Institute Of Hygiene of
the University of the Philippines
- a representative of the deans or
heads of the private schools of
medical technology,
- and the presidents of the Philippine
Association of Medical Technologists
and the Philippine Society of
Pathologists
Section 4, RA 527
Compensation and Traveling Expenses of Council
Members
1. The chairman and members of the Council shall
be entitled to a twenty-five pesos per diem for
every meeting actually attended
2. number of meetings authorized with a per diem
shall not exceed two in a month
3. officials receiving regular salaries from the
Government shall not receive a per diem
4. the chairman and members of the Council
shall be entitled to traveling expenses in
connection with their official
duties
Section 5, RA 5527 Section 6, 5527
Functions of the Council of Medical Technology Minimum Required Course
Education
Medical Technology Course
Functions of the Council - at least 4 years
- including a 12-month satisfactory internship in
1. To recommend the minimum required
accredited laboratories
curriculum for the course of
- must include the ff subjects
medical technology.
Subjects:
2. To determine and prescribe the number of
1. English
students to be allowed
2. Spanish
to take up the medical technology course in
3. Social Science
each school, taking into account the student-
4. General Zoology
instructor ratio and the availability of
5. Botany
facilities for instruction.
6. Mathematics
7. College Physics
3. To approve medical technology schools meeting
8. Qualitative Chemistry
the requirements and recommend closure of
9. Quantitative Chemistry
those found to be substandard.

1. Biochemistry
4. To require all medical technology schools to
2. Gross Anatomy
submit an annual report, including the total
3. Histology
number of students and instructors, a list of
4. Physiology
facilities available for instruction, a list of their
5. Clinical Parasitology
recent graduates and new admissions, on or
6. General Pathology
before the month of June.
7. Microbiology
8. Biostatistics
5. To inspect, when necessary, the different
9. Clinical Laboratory
medical technology schools in the country in
order to determine whether a high standard of
Methods includes
education is maintained in said institutions.
a. Hematology
b. Serology
6. To certify for admission into an undergraduate
c. Blood banking,
internship students who have satisfactorily
d. Clinical microscopy,
completed three years of the medical
e. Applied microbiology,
technology course or its equivalent and to
f. and parasitology,
collect from said students the amount of five
g. histopathologic techniques,
pesos each which money accrue to the
h. cytotechnology
operating fund of the Council.

7. To formulate and recommend approval of

refresher course for applicants who shall have
failed the Board Examination for the
third time.
8. To promulgate and prescribe and enforce
necessary rules and regulations for the proper
implementation of the foregoing
Functions
Council
- authorized, subject to the approval of the Secretary of
Education to change, remove from or add to the
subjects listed above as the needs and demands of
progress in the science of medical technology may
require
Section 13, RA 5527 Section 15, RA 5527
Accreditation of Schools of Medical Technology and of Examination
Training Laboratories
Except as otherwise specifically allowed under the
Department of Education provisions of this Act, all applicants for registration as
- shall approve schools of medical technology in medical technologists shall be required to undergo a
accordance with the provisions of this Act. written examination
Given by: Board
Department of Health or its authorized agency shall,
Time: annually
upon recommendation of the Council of Medical
Place:
Technology Education,
- approve laboratories for accreditation as training 1. Greater Manila Area,
laboratories for Medical Technology students or 2. Cebu, and
postgraduate trainees 3. Davao

upon satisfactory evidence that said laboratories Date: month of August or September on such days and
possess qualified personnel and are properly equipped places as the Board may designate.
to carry out laboratory procedures commonly required
Written notices of such examination
in ff fields
- shall be published in at least three newspapers of
1. bacteriology national circulation
2. serology - by the Secretary of the Board
3. parasitology - at least thirty days prior to the date of examination
4. hematology
5. biochemistry

Scope of Activities of said laboratory

Section 16, RA 5527
- offers sufficient training in said laboratory procedures
Qualification for Examination

Every applicant for examination under this Act, shall,

Section 14, RA 5527 prior to the date thereof, furnish the Board satisfactory
Inhibition against the Practice of Medical Technology proof that he or she:

No person shall practice or offer to practice medical 1. Is in good health and is of good moral
technology as defined in this act without having character;
previously obtained a valid certificate of registration 2. Has completed a course of at least four years
from the Board provided that registration shall not be leading to the degree of Bachelor of Science in
required of the following Medical or Bachelor of Science in Hygiene
conferred by a recognized school, college or
1. Duly registered physicians.
university in accordance with this Act and all
2. Medical technologists from other countries
other persons having graduated from other
called in for consultation or as visiting or
paramedical professions who are actually
exchange professors to colleges or
performing medical technology for the last five
universities: Provided, they are only practicing
years prior to the enactment of this Act
the said function.
provided they meet the minimum requirements
3. Medical technologists in the service of the
mentioned in Section Six exceeding one year
United States Armed Forces stationed in the
undergraduate internship or practical training
Philippines rendering services as such for
members of the said forces only
SEC 17, RA 5527 - not failed in at least 60% of the subjects computed
Scope and Coverage and Examination according to their relative weights.

Clinical Chemistry 20%

Microbiology & Parasitology 20%
No further examination = failing 3 examinations,
Hematology 20%
Blood Banking & Serology 20% unless and until
Clinical Microscopy (Urinalysis and 10%
Other Body) 1. he shall have completed a 12 months' refresher
Histopathologic Techniques 10% course in an accredited medical technology
school
2. or 12-month postgraduate training in an
Board accredited laboratory
- prepare the schedule of subjects for examination and
submit the same to the Commissioner of Civil Service Graduate of paramedical professions other than
for publication Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology/Bachelor of
- at least 4 months before the date of examination. Science in Hygiene
- admitted to an examination under the provisions of
- compute the general average of each examinee this Act shall not be given further examinations after his
according to the abovementioned relative weights of
failure to qualify for the third time
the subjects

- may change, add to or remove from the list of

Subjects or weights above, as progress in the science of
medical technology may require, subject to the prior
SEC 20, RA 5527
approval of the Council
Oath Taking

All successful examinees

- required to take a professional oath before the Board
or before any person authorized to administer oaths
SEC 18, RA 5527 prior to entering upon the practice of medical
Scope and Coverage and Examination technology in the Philippines
Board
- shall prepare and submit the result thereof to the
Commissioner of Civil Service
- within 120 days after the date of completion of
SEC 21, RA 5527
examination
Issuance of Certificate of Registration
Commissioner of Civil Service
Every applicant who has satisfactorily passed the
- shall submit such result to the President of the
required examination shall be issued a certificate of
Philippines for approval
registration as medical technologist

No such certificate shall be issued to any successful

SEC 19, RA 5527 applicant who has not attained the age of 21 years.
Ratings in the Examination
All certificates
In order to pass the examination - shall be signed by all the members of the Board and
- attested by its Secretary
General average
- at least 75% in the written test Duly registered medical technologist
- no rating below 50% in any of the major subjects - shall be required to display his certificate of
registration in the place where he works
Upon application filed after approval not later than 90
days
the Board shall issue a certificate of registration
without examination to persons
a. who have graduated with a Bachelor of Science
in Hygiene and/or Bachelor of Science in
Medical Technology in duly recognized schools
of medical technology in the Philippines or
foreign countries and who have been in the
practice of medical technology for at least
three years at the time of the passage of this
Act in laboratories in the Philippines or in
foreign countries duly accredited by the Bureau
of Research and Laboratories, Department of
Health
b. other persons having graduated from other
paramedical professions who are already civil
service eligible by authority of the other Boards
of profession and who are actually performing
medical technology practice for the last five
years prior to the enactment of this Act
SEC 22, RA 5527
Fees
The Board shall charge each applicant for examination
and registration the sum of fifty pesos
and for each certificate of registration issued without
prior examination in accordance with the provisions of
this Act the sum of twenty five pesos;
for issuance of a new certificate to replace certificate
lost, destroyed or mutilated, the Board shall charge the
sum of ten pesos.
All such fees shall be paid to the disbursing officer of
the Civil Service Commission who shall pay from the
receipts thereof, all authorized expenses of the Board
including the compensation of each member
SEC 23, RA 5527
Refusal to Issue Certificate
The Board shall refuse to a certificate of registration
- to any person convicted by a court of competent
jurisdiction of any criminal offense involving moral
turpitude, found guilty of immoral or dishonorable
conduct, or is of unsound mind, or is suffering from an
incurable communicable disease,
and in such case shall give to the applicant a written
statement setting forth the reason for its action, which
statement shall be incorporated in the record of the
Board
SEC 24, RA 5527
Administrative Investigation-Revocation or Suspension
of Certificates
Administrative investigations
- shall be conducted by at least two members of the
Board
- with one legal officer sitting during the investigation
Existing rules of evidence
- shall be observed during all administrative proceedings
The respondents shall be entitled to
1. be represented by counsel or be heard in
person
2. to have a speedy and public hearing
3. to confront and cross-examine witnesses
against him or her
4. and to all other rights guaranteed by the
Constitution
The Board may
1. reprimand an erring medical technologist or
2. revoke or suspend his certificate of registration
for the causes mentioned
1. in the next preceding section or
2. for causes enumerated in section twenty-nine
(29) of this Act, or
3. for unprofessional conduct, malpractice,
incompetency, or serious ignorance or gross negligence
in the practice of medical technology.
No penalty of revocation shall be imposed
- unless there is a unanimous vote of all the three
members of the Board
The Board may, by majority vote, impose the penalty of
reprimand or suspension, the latter, however, not to
exceed two years.
suspension
and said certificate shall be re-issued to the medical
technologist concerned upon request without prejudice
to further actions by the Board for violation of the
provisions of this Act or conditions imposed by the
Board upon the medical technologist during the period
of suspension
SEC 27, RA 5527
Foreign Reciprocity

When the penalty of suspension or revocation is
imposed by the Board,
- the medical technologist shall be required to
surrender his certificate of registration within
thirty days after the decision becomes final,
under the pain of perpetual disqualification
from the practice of medical technology in the
Philippines for inexcusable failure to do so. The
suspension shall run from the date of such
surrender
No foreigner
- shall be admitted to examination,
- or be given a certificate of registration
- or be entitled to any of the rights and privileges under
this Act
unless
the country or state which he is a subject or a citizen
- permits Filipino Medical Technologists to practice
within its territorial limits on the same basis as the
subjects or citizens of said country or state

CONCLUDING PROVISIONS

SEC 25, RA 5527 Concluding Provisions

Appeal - include the roster of

The revocation or suspension of a certificate made by 1. medical technologists,

the Board 2. penal provisions,
- shall be subject to appeal to the Civil Service 3. separability clause, and
Commissioner 4. repealing clause.

- whose decision shall become final thirty days after its

promulgation,
- unless the respondent within the same period has
appealed to the Office of the President of the
Philippines
SEC 26, RA 5527
Reinstatement, Reissue or Replacement of Certificates
Section 28, RA 5527
Roster of Medical Technologists
A roster of Medical Technologists shall be prepared
annually by the Secretary of the Board, commencing on
the year following that in which the Act shall become
effective.
The roster shall contain

The Board may, upon application and for reason 1. the name,
deemed proper and sufficient, reissue any revoked 2. address and
registration certificate. 3. citizenship of each registered Medical
Technologist,
The suspension shall be automatically lifted upon the
 4. date of registration or issuance of certificate,
and
5. other data which in the opinion of the Board are
pertinent.
The roster shall be open to public inspection,
and copies thereof shall be mailed
1. to each person included therein,
2. placed on file in the Office of the President,
3. furnished to all Department Heads
4. and all agencies, offices and instrumentalities of
the Department of Health
5. and to such other offices, private or
governmental,
6. and to the public upon request
Section 29, RA 5527
Penal Provisions
Without prejudice to the provision of the Medical Act of
1959 as amended, pertaining to illegal practice of
Medicine,
the following shall' be punished
1. by a fine of not less than two thousand pesos
nor more than five thousand pesos,
2. or imprisonment for not less than six months
nor more than two years, or both at the
discretion of the court:
a. Any person who shall practice Medical
Technology in the Philippines without being
registered or exempted from registration in
accordance with the provisions of the Act;
b. Any medical technologist, even if duly
registered, who shall practice medical
technology in the Philippines without the
necessary supervision of a qualified
pathologist or physician authorized by the
Department of Health;
c. Any medical technologist who shall knowingly
make a fraudulent -laboratory report;
d. Any duly registered medical technologist who
shall refuse or fail, after due warning by the
Board, to display his certificate of registration
in the place where he works;
e. Any person presenting or attempting to use as
his own, the certificate of registration of
another;
f. Any person who shall give any false or
fraudulent evidence of any kind to the Board
member thereof obtaining a certificate of
registration as Medical Technologist;
g. Any person who shall impersonate any
registrant of a fake or the same name;
h. Any person who shall attempt to use a revoked
or suspended certificate of registration;
i. Any person who shall, in connection with his
name, otherwise assume, use or advertise any
title or description tending to convey the
impression that he is a Medical Technologist
without holding a valid certificate of
registration;
j. Any person who shall violate any provision of
this Act;
k. or Any person or corporate body who shall
violate the rules and regulations of the Board
or orders promulgated by it after having been
duly approved and issued by the President of
the Philippines upon recommendation of the
Commissioner of Civil Service for the purpose of
carrying out the provisions of this Act
Section 30, RA 5527
Separability Clause
If any provision of this Act or the application of such
provision to any person or circumstance is declared
invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction; the
remainder of this Act or of the application of such
provision to other persons or circumstances shall not be
affected by such declaration
Section 31, RA 5527
Repealing Clause
All acts, executive orders, rules and regulations, or parts
thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are
hereby repealed:
Provided, however, that nothing in this Act shall be
construed as repealing or amending any portion of the
Amendment process
- also involves bringing the proposed amendment to the
focus and attention of the Congress, similar to the
process of enacting a law derived from the three
readings of a bill,
The Senate and the House of Representatives review
the proposal. The Congress upon a vote of three-fourths
of all its members and both Houses must meet in a joint
session to discuss the amendment of the provisions

1. Medical Act of 1959 (RA 2382, as amended

by RA 4224),
2. the Clinical Laboratory Act of1966 (RA 4688),
RA 5527 and CHED Memorandum Orders
3. Blood Banking Law of 1956 (RA 1517)
Republic Act 5527
- clearly defines what encompasses the practice of
AMENDMENTS
medical technology.
- also includes provisions on the scope and coverage of
the examination including some information on the
In response to issues and concerns on certain
performance ratings
provisions of RA 5527, several amendments were made
- more so with the composition, qualifications, and
after its implementation.
functions of the Board of Examiners.
- the revocation, reissue, and issuance of Certification of
The amendments done to RA 5527 include
Registration are covered in the Act.
1. RA 6138 (August 31, 1970),
2. P.D. 498 (June 28, 1974), and
CHED Memorandum Orders
3. P.D. 1534 (June 11, 1978).
- emphasize the standard polices in applying for a
program permit and recognition, including the
Medical Technology Act
requirements for library holdings, faculty, instruction,
- truly augmented the salary and compensation
schedule of budget, goals and objectives, and feasibility
commensurate with the competencies and skills of the
study.
Filipino medical technologists
Activity: Analyze this case and answer the questions.
Finally, during the first regular session of the Sixteenth
ase Commentary (2) Cara, a 30-year old medical
Congress on December 04, 2013 by virtue of House Bill
technologist of Hong Kong had worked in the said
3502, amendments on several, sections of RA 5527
country for almost six years. In her seventh year in Hong
were enacted
Kong, she decided to take the Philippine Medical
Technology Licensure Examination and successfully
AMENDMENTS AND THEIR PROCESS
passed it. 1. What law qualifies a medical technologist
who worked abroad to take the board examination? 2.
Amendments
Can she work in the Philippines? 3. What are the re
- changes to certain provisions of a Republic
uirements so that she can work as a medical technolo st
- based on the premise that changes are made or to be
in the country?
made for the purpose of
1. adapting to what is presently existing in the
professional practice and
2. expanding the rights and privileges extended to
an individual or a group of persons
RA 5527 and Clinical Laboratory Accreditation and
Categories

Republic Act 5527

- includes the provisions on the accreditation of the
clinical laboratory as a training ground for interns or
externs as the case may be.

Accreditation of clinical laboratories

- used to be the function of the Bureau of Research
Laboratory and the Department of Health (DOH).

However, because of certain changes in the DOH, the

functions of classifying the laboratories are now under
the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

First, the CHED implements the rules, regulations, and

policies before the program can be offered. The policy
covers the internship program. The classes of clinical
laboratories are described and discussed in'Chapter 6.

Second, the improvement of laboratory diagnostic

services benefits both students and patients; hence, the
function should be under the CHED.

Third, RA 5527 provides guidelines for the BRL, DOH,

and CHED.

trevisions of 5827 r-~uire th- mon it»-ring :no r ision b

the