REPUBLIC ACT NO.

5527 AND
ITS AMENDMENTS
MTLB211 Medical Technology Laws and Bioethics
Sherlyn Joy P. Isip, RMT, MSMT

OUR LADY OF FATIMA UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE
TOPIC OUTLINE:

• (3) three Amendments to R.A 5527

üR.A 6138 of August 31, 1970 (3 amendments)
• Sections: 16, 21 and 22
üPresidential Decree 498 of June 28, 1974 (12 amendments)
• Sections: 2, 3, 4,7,8,11,13,16,17,21,29, and 31
üPresidential Decree 1534 of June 11, 1978 (5 amendments)
• Sections: 3,8,11,13 and 31
 REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6138: AN ACT TO AMEND CERTAIN
SECTIONS OF REPUBLIC ACT NUMBERED FIVE
THOUSAND TWENTY-SEVEN, KNOWN AS THE
PHILIPPINE MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY ACT OF 1969.

Section 16 (Qualification of Examination)

RA5527 RA 6138
• Has completed a course of at least four • Has completed a course of at least four
years leading to the degrees of Bachelor years leading to the degree of Bachelor
of Science in Medical Technology or of Science in Medical Technology or
Bachelor of Science in Hygiene. Bachelor of Science in Hygiene.
• Graduated from other paramedical • Graduated from some other
professions who are actually performing paramedical profession has been
medical technology for the last five (5) actually performing medical technology
years prior to the enactment of this Act for the last five (5) years prior to the
provided they meet the minimum date of the examination, if such
requirements mentioned in Section Six performance began prior to the
exceeding one year undergraduate enactment of this Act.
internship or practical training.
 Section 21 (Issuance of Certificate of Registration)
RA5527
• Certificate of registration without
examination to persons:
• Graduated with a BSMT/ BSH in duly
recognized schools of medical
technology in the Philippines or
foreign countries who have been in
the practice of medical technology
for at least three (3) years at the
time of the passage of this Act.
• 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 (5) years
prior to the enactment of this Act.
RA 6138
• Certificate of registration without
examination to persons:
• Graduated with a BSMT/ BSH in duly
recognized schools of medical
technology in the Philippines or
foreign countries who have been in
the practice of medical technology, for
at least three (3) years prior to the
filing of the application.
• Other persons who having graduated
from other paramedical professions
are already civil service eligible by
authority of the other Boards of
profession and who have been actually
performing medical technology
practice for the last five (5) years prior
to the filing of the application.
 Section 22 (Fees)
RA5527
• The Board shall charge each applicant
for examination and registration the
sum of fifty (50) pesos
• Twenty-five (25) pesos: certificate of
registration issued without prior
examination
• Ten pesos (10): to replace certificate
lost, destroyed or mutilated
RA 6138
• Examination and Registration – The
Board shall charge each applicant
for examination and registration the
sum of fifty (50) pesos
• 10 pesos allocated for registration
Section 22 (Fees)
 PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 498: AMENDING SECTIONS
TWO, THREE, FOUR, SEVEN, EIGHT, ELEVEN, THIRTEEN,
SIXTEEN, SEVENTEEN, TWENTY-ONE, AND TWENTY-NINE
OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 5527, ALSO KNOWN AS PHILIPPINE
MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY ACT OF 1969

RA 5527 PD 498

• Section 2 (Definition of Terms)

a. Practice of Medical
Technology
b. Medical Laboratory
Technician
DEFINITION OF TERMS
• (a) Practice of Medical Technology. A person shall be deemed to be in the
practice of medical technology within the meaning of this Act, who shall for
a fee, salary or other compensation or reward paid or given directly or
indirectly through another, renders any of the following professional
services for the purpose of aiding the physician in the diagnosis, study and
treatment of diseases and in the promotion of health in general:
1. Examination of tissues, secretions and excretions of the human body and
body fluids by various electronic, chemical, microscopic, bacteriologic,
hematologic, serologic, immunologic, nuclear, and other laboratory
procedures and techniques either manual or automated:
2. Blood banking procedures and techniques
3. Parasitologic, Mycologic and Microbiologic procedures and techniques
4. Histopathologic and Cytotechnology; provided that nothing in this
paragraph shall inhibit a duly registered medical laboratory technician from
performing histopathologic techniques and procedures.
DEFINITION OF TERMS

5. Clinical research involving patients or human beings requiring the use of

and/or application of medical technology knowledge and procedures
6. Preparations and standardization of reagents, standards, stains and
others, provided such reagents, standards, stains and others are
exclusively for the use of their laboratory
7. Clinical laboratory quality control
8. Collection and preservation of specimens
DEFINITION OF TERMS

• (d) Medical Laboratory Technicians. A person certified and registered

with the Board as qualified to assist a medical technologist and/or
qualified pathologist in the practice of medical technology as defined in
this Act.
 Section 3 (Council of Medical Technology Education)
RA5527
• Chairman: Secretary of Education
or Director of Private Education
• Vice-Chairman: Director of Bureau
of Research and Laboratories of the
DOH
• Members:
ü 1 Chairman and Two members
of the Board of Medical
Technology
ü Dean of the Institute of Health
of UP
ü A representative of the deans or
heads of the Privates schools of
medical technology
ü President of PAMET
ü President of PSP
PD 498
• Chairman: Commissioner of the
Professional Regulation
Commission (PRC)
• Vice-Chairman: Chairman of the
Board of Medical Technology
• Members:
ü Two members of the Board of
Medical Technology
ü Director of Private Education or
its duly authorized
representative
ü Director of Bureau of Research
and Laboratories of the DOH
ü A representative of the deans or
heads of the Privates schools of
medical technology
 Section 4 (Compensation and Traveling Expenses
of Council of members)
RA5527 PD 498
• The chairman and members of the • Chairman: P50.00
Council shall be entitled to a • Members: P25.00
twenty-five pesos per diem for
every meeting actually attended. • Regardless they receive regular
salaries or not.
• Officials receiving regular salaries
from the Government shall not
receive per diem.
 Section 7 (Medical Technology Board)
RA5527
• Pathologist and (2) two members
who are registered medical
technologists are appointed by
the President of the Philippines
• The chairman shall serve for three
years, one member for two years
and the third member for one year.
• No member shall be allowed more
than (1) one reappointment.
• The president of the Philippines
shall fill the vacancy may occur, but
appointee shall serve only the
unexpired term of the
incapacitated member.
PD 498
• Medical Technology Board
under Professional regulation
Commission (PRC)
• Recommendation coming
from PRC and appointed by
the President
• Each member will serve 3
years after appointment or
until their successors shall
have been appointed and duly
qualifies.
 Section 8 (Qualification of Examiners)
RA5527
• To be a member of Board of Examiners
he/she
ü Is a Filipino citizen
ü Is of good moral character
ü Is a qualified Pathologist, or duly
registered medical technologists
with a degree in BSMT/BSH
ü Has been in the practice of
laboratory medicine or medical
technology for at least (10) ten
years prior to his appointment
ü Is not a member of the faculty of
any medical technology school or
have any pecuniary interest, direct
or indirect, in such institution.
PD 498
• 1) x x x
• 2) x x x
• 3) Is a duly registered medical
technologist of the Philippines with
the degree of Bachelor of Science in
Medical Technology/Bachelor of
Science in Hygiene/Public Health
• 4) x x x
• 5) Is not a member of the faculty of
any medical technology school for
at least two (2) years prior to
appointment or having any
pecuniary interest direct or indirect
in such institution.
 Section 11 (Functions and Duties of the Board)
RA5527 PD 498

• (c) Issue, suspend and revoke • Subsection (c) of Section 11 of the

certificates of registration for the same Act is hereby amended and
practice of medical technology. subparagraphs (g), (h) and (i) are
hereby added.
• (c) Issue, suspend and revoke
certificates of registration for the
practice of medical technology and
medical laboratory technician
 Section 11 (Functions and Duties of the Board)

• (g) To determine the adequacy of the technical staff of all clinical

laboratories and blood banks before they could be licensed with the
Department of Health in accordance with R.A. No. 4655 and 1517;
• (h) To prescribe the qualification and training of medical technologist as
to special fields of the profession and supervise their specialty
examination conducted by the professional organization of medical
technologists accredited by the Professional Regulation Commission;
• (i) To classify and prescribe the qualification and training of the technical
staff of clinical laboratories as to: Chief Medical Technologist; Senior
Medical Technologist; Medical Technologist and Medical Laboratory
Technician.
 Section 13 (Accreditation of Schools of Medical Technology
and of Training Laboratory)
RA5527 PD 498

• Department of Education shall • Department of Education and Culture

approve schools of medical shall approve schools of medical
technology. technology.
• The Department of Health or its • The Professional Regulation
authorized agency shall approve Commission shall approve laboratories
laboratories for accreditation as for accreditations as training
training laboratories for medical laboratories for medical technology
technology students or postgraduate students or post graduate trainees.
trainees.
• Recommendation: Board of Medical
• Recommendation: Council of Medical Technology
Technology Education
 Section 16 (Qualifications of Examiners)
RA 6138 PD 498

• Has completed a course of at least • Has completed a course of at least

four (4) years leading to the degree four (4) years leading to the degree
of Bachelor of Science in Medical of Bachelor of Science in Medical
Technology or Bachelor of Science Technology or Bachelor of Science
in Hygiene. in Public Health.
• Graduated from some other • Graduated from some other
paramedical profession has been profession and has been actually
actually performing medical performing medical technology for
technology for the last five (5) years the last five (5) years prior to the
prior to the date of the date of the examinations, if such
examination, if such performance performance began prior to June
began prior to the enactment of this 21, 1969.
Act.
 Section 17 (Scope of examination)
RA5527 PD 498

• The Board shall prepare the
schedule of subjects for
examination and to submit the
same to the Commissioner of Civil
Service for publication at least
four (4) months before the date
of examination.
• Board 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 approval of the
council.
• The Board shall prepare the schedule
of subjects for examination and to
submit the same to the Commissioner
of the Professional Regulation
Commission for publication at least
thirty (30) days before the date of
examination.
• Board 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 approval of the
Professional Regulation Commission,
and publication of the change or
amendment at least three (3) months
prior to the date of examination in
which the same is to take effect.
 Section 21 (Issuance of Certificate of Registration)
RA 6138 PD 498

• Certificate of registration without • All certificate shall be signed by the

examination to persons: members of the Board and by the
• Graduated with a BSMT/ BSH in duly Commissioner of the Professional
recognized schools of medical Regulation Commission.
technology in the Philippines or foreign • Upon application filed and the payment of
countries who have been in the the required fee of one hundred and fifteen
practice of medical technology, for at pesos (P115.00) the Board shall issue a
least three (3) years prior to the filing of certificate of registration as medical
the application. technologist without examination to
persons
• Other persons who having graduated
from other paramedical professions are • Graduated with Bachelor of BSMT/BSPH in
already civil service eligible by authority duly recognized schools of medical
of the other Boards of profession and technology in the Philippines or in any
who have been actually performing foreign country (standard of medical
medical technology practice for the last technology education is substantially the
five years prior to the filing of the same as ours), and in addition shall have
application. been in the practice of medical technology
for at least three (3) years prior to the filing
of the application).
 Section 21 (Issuance of Certificate of Registration)
PD 498
§ Graduated from other professions
have been actually performing
medical technology practice for the
last eight (8) years prior to filing of
the application, Provided, that such
performance began prior to June
21, 1969.
§ Issue a certificate of registration as
medical laboratory technician
without examination to any person
who upon application and payment
of the required fee of fifty pesos
(P50.00):
§ Passed the civil service
examination for medical technician
on March 21, 1964
• Has finished a two-year college course and has
at least one (1) year of experience as medical
laboratory technician, provided, that for every
year of deficiency in college attainment two (2)
years of experience may be substituted
• Who has at least ten (10) years experience as
medical laboratory technician as of the date of
approval of this Decree regardless of his
academic attainment may qualify for
registration without examination
• Has failed to pass the board examination for
medical technology but had obtained a general
rating of at least 70%.
• Registered medical laboratory technician when
employed in the government shall have the
equivalent civil service eligibility not lower than
second grade.
 PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 498

Section 29 (Penal Provision)

Subparagraph (j) of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows:
• “(j) Any person or corporate body who shall allow anyone in his employ
who is not a registered medical technologist/medical laboratory
technician to engage in the practice of medical technology or recommend
for appointment anyone to the position of medical technologist/medical
laboratory technician knowing that he is not registered as such.”

Section 31 (Repealing Clause)

• All laws, executive orders, decrees, rules and regulations or parts
thereof, inconsistent with the provisions of this Decree are hereby
repealed, amended or modified accordingly.
 PRESIDENTIAL DECREE 1534: FURTHER AMENDING
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 5527 AS AMENDED BY PRESIDENTIAL
DECREE NO. 498 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE PHILIPPINE
MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY ACT OF 1969
 Section 3 (Council of Medical Technology Education)
PD 498
• Chairman: Commissioner of the
Professional Regulation
Commission (PRC)
• Vice-Chairman: Chairman of the
Board of Medical Technology
• Members:
ü Two (2) members of the Board
of Medical Technology
ü Director of Private Education or
its duly authorized
representative
ü Director of Bureau of Research
and Laboratories of the DOH
ü A representative of the deans or
heads of the Privates schools of
medical technology
PD 1534
• Chairman: Director of Higher
Education
• Vice-Chairman: Chairman
Professional Regulation Commission
(PRC)
• Members:
ü Chairman and two (2) members of
the Board of Medical Technology
ü Director of Bureau of Research
and Laboratories of the DOH
ü A representative of the deans or
heads of the Privates schools of
Medical Technology and Public
Health
ü President of PAMET
ü President of PSP
 Section 8 (Qualification of Examiners)
PD 498
• 1) x x x
• 2) x x x
• 3) is a duly registered medical
technologist of the Philippines with the
degree of Bachelor of Science in
Medical Technology/Bachelor of
Science in Hygiene/Public Health
• 4) x x x
• 5) is not a member of the faculty of any
medical technology school for at least
two (2) years prior to appointment or
having any pecuniary interest direct or
indirect in such institution.”
PD 1534
• No person shall be appointed as a
member of the Medical Technology
Board unless he or she:
• . . . is a qualified Pathologists, or a
duly registered Medical
Technologist, of the Philippines
with the degree of Bachelor of
Science in Medical
Technology/Bachelor of Science in
Hygiene/Public Health; . . . ."
 Section 11 (Functions and Duties of the Board)
PD 1534
Subparagraphs (g) and (i) of Section 11 of Republic Act No. 5527 as
amended are hereby repealed.

• g) To determine the adequacy of the technical staff of all clinical

laboratories and blood banks before they could be licensed
• (i) To classify and prescribe the qualification and training of the technical
staff of clinical laboratories
Section 13 (Accreditation of Schools of Medical Technology
and of Training Laboratory)
PD498 PD 1534

• Department of Education and Culture • The Department of Education and

shall approve schools of medical Culture shall approve schools of
technology. Medical Technology in accordance
• The Professional Regulation with the provisions of this Act, as
Commission shall approve laboratories amended, in conjunction with the
for accreditations as training Board of Medical Technology.
laboratories for medical technology • The Department of Health through the
students or post graduate trainees. Bureau of Research and Laboratories
• Recommendation: Board of Medical shall approve laboratories for
Technology accreditation as training laboratories
for medical technology students or
post-graduate trainees in conjunction
with the Board of Medical
Technology.
 Repealing Clause

PD498 PD 1534

• All laws, executive orders, decrees, • All those Executive Order, Decrees,
rules and regulations or parts thereof, Rules and Regulations, or parts thereof
inconsistent with the provisions of inconsistent with the provisions of this
this Decree are hereby repealed, Decree are hereby repealed, amended
amended or modified accordingly. or modified accordingly: Provided,
however, That nothing in this Decree
shall be construed as repealing or
amending any portion of the
following:
• Medical Act of 1959
• Clinical Laboratory Act of 1966
• Blood Banking Law of 1956
Summary:
• Sections 2, 4,7,17, 22 and 29 are amended once
• Sections 3,8,11,13,16,21 and 31 are amended twice
 PAMET Presidents

REFERENCES:
• "The Medical Technology Profession and The Philippine Laws on
Medical Technology" 2017 Edition by Prof. Nardito D. Moraleta
• Notes on R.A. 5527 of Prof. John Jeffrey G. Pangilinan, RMT, MSMT
• Notes on R.A. 5527 of Prof. John Kenneth Pagdanganan, RMT