SUMMARIZATION OF RA 5527
(The Philippine Medical Technology Act of 1969)
SECTION 1: TITLE
 “Philippine Medical Technology Act of 1969”
 An act requiring the registration of Medical
Technologists, defining their practice, and other
purposes.
 Approved: June 21, 1969
 Signed by: Former President Ferdinand E. Marcos
(August 14, 1969)
SECTION 2: DEFINITION OF TERMS
 Medical Technology
 Pathologists
 Medical Technologist
 Medical Technician
 Accredited Medical Technology Training Laboratory
 Recognized School of Medical Technology
 Council
 Board
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 the DOH
 Members:
o Chairman and (2) members of the Board of
Medical Technology
o Dean of the Institute of Health of UP
o A representative of the deans or heads of the
Privates schools of Medical Technology
o President of PAMET
o President of PSP
SECTION 4: COMPENSATION AND TRAVELING EXPENSES
OF COUNCIL MEMBERS
 The chairman and members of the Council shall be
entitled to twenty-five pesos per diem for every
meeting attended. (shall not exceed 2/month)
 Officials receiving regular salaries from the Government
shall not receive per diem.
 Chairman and members shall be entitled to travel
expenses in connection to duties and responsibilities.
SECTION 5: FUNCTIONS OF THE COUNCIL OF MEDICAL
TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION
 To recommend minimum required curriculum.
 To determine and prescribe the number of students,
account for the student-instructor ratio, and the
availability of facilities for instruction. (40:1)
 To approve medical technology school meeting the
requirements and recommended closure to those who
were found to be substandard.
 To require all medical technology schools to submit an
annual report, including the total number of students
and instructors, a list of facilities available for instruction,
and a list of their recent graduates, and new admissions,
on or before the month of June.
 To inspect and determine whether a high standard of
education is maintained.
 To certify for admission into undergraduate internship
students who have satisfactorily completed three
years of the medical technology course or its equivalent
MAZON, D.M.P. | BSMT-2B
and to collect from said students the amount of five
pesos each which money accrues to the operating fund
of the council. [5 pesos each student for accrue of the
Council]
 Formulate and recommend approval of refresher course
for applicants who shall have failed the board
examination for the third time. [12 months refresher
course in CEU]
 To promulgate and prescribe rules and regulations of
the foregoing functions.
SECTION 6: MINIMUM REQUIRED COURSE
 At least 4 years Medical Technology Course
 12-months satisfactory Internship
 Includes the following subjects:
 English -Biochemistry -Spanish -Gross Anatomy -Social
Science -Histology -General Zoology -Physiology -
Botany - Clinical Parasitology -Mathematics -General
Pathology –College Physics -Microbiology -General
Chemistry -Biostatistics - Qualitative Chemistry -Clinical
Laboratory Methods - Quantitative Chemistry (including
hematology, serology, blood banking, clinical
microscopy, applied microbiology, and parasitology,
histopathologic techniques, and cyto-technology)
SECTION 7: BOARD OF EXAMINERS OF MEDICAL
TECHNOLOGY
 The Board of Medical Technology is composed of:
o Pathologist appointed by the President of the
Philippines
o (2) two members who are registered
medical technologists 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
that may occur, but the appointee shall serve only the
unexpired term of the incapacitated member.
SECTION 8: QUALIFICATIONS OF EXAMINERS
To be a member of the Board of Examiners he/she
 Is a Filipino citizen
 Is of good moral character
 Is a qualified Pathologist, or duly registered medical
technologist with a degree in BSMT/BSH
 Has been in the practice of laboratory medicine or
medical technology for at least (10) ten years before
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
SECTION 9: EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE BOARD
 The Commissioner of Civil Service shall be the
Executive Officer of the Board and shall conduct the
examinations given by it. The Secretary of the Board
Examiners appointed in accordance with Section ten of
Act Numbered Four Thousand Seven, as amended, shall
also be the Secretary of the Board. He shall keep a
register of all persons to whom certificates of registration
have been granted
SECTION 10: COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS OF THE BOARD
OF EXAMINERS FOR MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY
 Each member of the Board shall receive as of
Registration without examination
o P10.00 for each applicant examined
o P5.00 for each applicant granted a Certificate
of Registration without examination
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
 Look into conditions affecting the practice of medical
technology in the Philippines and, whenever necessary,
adopt such measures as may be deemed proper for the
maintenance of good ethics and standards in the
practice of medical technology
 Investigation of such violations of this Act or the rules
and regulations; issued subpoena and subpoena
duces tecum
 Draft such rules and regulations as may be necessary
to carry-out the provision of this Act
SECTION 12: REMOVAL OF BOARD
 Any member of the Board may be removed by the
President of the Philippines for the ff. reasons:
o Neglect of duty
o Incompetency
o Malpractice or unprofessional
o Unethical
o Immoral or dishonorable conduct
o Opportunity to defend himself
 The President shall have the power to suspend and
appoint a temporary member of the place
SECTION 13: ACCREDITATION OF SCHOOLS OF MEDICAL
TECHNOLOGY AND OF TRAINING LABORATORIES
 Department of Education shall approve schools of
medical technology in accordance with the provisions of
this Act. The Department of Health or its authorized
agency shall upon recommendation of the Council of
Medical Technology Education approve laboratories for
accreditation as training laboratories for Medical
Technology students or postgraduate trainees. Required
fields for accreditation:
1. Bacteriology
2. Serology
3. Parasitology
4. Hematology
5. Biochemistry Scope of activities of said laboratory offers
sufficient training in laboratory procedures
SECTION 14: INHIBITION AGAINST THE PRACTICE OF
MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY
No person shall practice or offer to practice medical
technology without previously obtaining a valid certificate of
registration from the Board registration shall not be required for
the following:
 a. Duly registered physicians
 b. Medical technologists from other countries call in
consultation or visit or exchange professors to colleges
or universities: provided, that they are only practicing the
said function
MAZON, D.M.P. | BSMT-2B
 c. Medical technologist in the service of the United
States Armed Forces stationed in the Philippines
rendering services as such for members of the said
forces only.
SECTION 15: EXAMINATION
Written examination shall be given by the Board in the ff.
Location:
a) Greater Manila Area
b) Cebu
c) Davao
 Examination is given during the month of August and
September
 Written notices of such examination shall be published in
at least (3) three newspaper of national circulation by
the Secretary of the Board at least (30) days prior to
the date of examination
SECTION 16: QUALIFICATION OF EXAMINATION
 Every applicant for examination under this Act, shall
before the date thereof, furnish the Board satisfactory
proof that he or she:
o Is in good health and is of good moral character.
o Has completed a course of at least (4) four years
leading to the degrees of BSMT/BSH.
o Persons having graduated from other paramedical
professions who are performing medical
technology for the last five years before
enactment of this Act provided they meet the
minimum requirements exceeding (1) one-year
undergraduate internship or practical training
SECTION 17: SCOPE OF EXAMINATION
The examination questions shall cover the following subjects with
their respective relative weights:
 Clinical Chemistry - 20%
 Microbiology & Parasitology - 20%
 Hematology- 20%
 Blood Banking - 20%
 Clinical Microscopy (Analysis of Urine and Body Fluids) -
10%
 Histopathologic Techniques, Cytotechnology, Medical
Technology Laws, Related Laws and its implementing
rules, and the code of ethics - 10%
SECTION 18: REPORTING OF RATING
 Within 120 days after the completion of the
examination, report the result thereof to the
Commissioner of Civil Service, who shall submit the
result to the President of the Philippines for approval.
SECTION 19: RATING IN THE EXAMINATION
 In order to pass the examination, a candidate must
obtain a general average of at least (75) seventy-five
percent in the written test, with no rating below fifty
percent in any major subjects
 Provided, that the candidate has not failed in at least
sixty percent of the subjects computed according to
their relative weights.
 Failing the board exam for three times = 12 months
refresher course in an accredited medical technology
school or 12-month postgraduate training in an
accredited laboratory
  Universities offering Refresher Course
1. Centro Escolar University -Professional and
Continuing Education
2. Trinity University of Asia
SECTION 20: OATH TAKING
 All successful examinees shall be required to take a
professional oath before the board or before any
person authorized to administer oaths prior to entering
upon the practice of medical technology in the
Philippines.
SECTION 21: ISSUANCE OF CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION
 Every applicant who has satisfactorily passed the
required examination for medical technologist shall be
issued to any successful applicant who has attained the
age of twenty-one (21) years old.
 All certificates must be signed by the members of the
board and attested by its Secretary.
 The certificates must be displayed in the workplace of
the Medical technologist.
SECTION 22: FEES
 The Board shall charge each applicant for examination
and registration the sum of fifty (50) pesos
 Twenty-five (25) pesos for each certificate of
registration issued without prior examination
 Ten pesos (10) for issuance of a new certificate to
replace a certificate lost, destroyed, or mutilated
 The Board shall charge the sum of 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.
SECTION 23: REFUSAL TO ISSUE CERTIFICATE
 The board shall refuse to issue a certificate of
registration to any person with the ff. reasons:
o Convicted by the court of competent
jurisdiction of any guilty of immoral or
dishonorable conduct
o Incurable communicable diseases
o Unsound mind
SECTION 24: ADMINISTRATIVE INVESTIGATION
 Revocation or suspension of Certificates shall be
conducted under administrative investigation by at
least two members of the Board and one legal officer
during the said investigation.
 REVOCATION - a unanimous vote of all the three
members
 REPRIMAND OR SUSPENSION - majority vote of the
board (but not exceeding two years of suspension)
 If revocation or suspension is imposed by the Board, the
medical technologist is required to surrender his
license and certificate of registration within 30 days
after the decision becomes final.
 The suspension shall run from the date of such
surrender.
SECTION 25: APPEAL
 The revocation or suspension of a certificate made by
the Board shall be subject to appeal to the Civil Service
Commissioner whose decision shall become final thirty
(30) days after its promulgation unless the respondent
MAZON, D.M.P. | BSMT-2B
within the same period has appealed to the office of the
President of the Philippines.
SECTION 26: REINSTATEMENT, REISSUE OR REPLACEMENT
OF CERTIFICATES
 The Board may, upon application and for reason deemed
proper and sufficient, reissue any revoked registration
certificate.
 The suspension of a certificate of registration shall be
automatically lifted upon the expiration of the period
of suspension and said certificate shall be re-issued to
the medical technologist concerned upon request.
SECTION 27: FOREIGN RECIPROCITY
 No foreigner shall be admitted to the examination, be
given a certificate of registration, or be entitled to
any rights and privileges under this Act unless the
country or state in which he is a subject or citizen permits
Filipino Medical Technologists to practice within its
territorial limits on the same as the subject citizen of said
country or state.
SECTION 28: ROSTER OF MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIST
 A Roster of Medical Technologists shall be prepared
annually by the Secretary of the Board.
 The roster shall contain the name, address, and
citizenship of each registered Medical Technologist,
date of registration or issuance of the certificate, and
other data which in the opinion of the Board are
pertinent.
SECTION 29: 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 by a fine of
not less than two thousand (2000) pesos nor more
than five thousand (5000) pesos, or imprisonment for
not less than six (6) months nor more than two (2)
years, or both, in the discretion of the court.
SECTION 30: SEPARABILITY CLAUSE
 If any provision of this Act or the application of the
provision to any person or circumstance is declared
invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, the
remainder of this Act or the application of such
provision to other persons or circumstances shall
not be affected by such declaration.
 In case any one or more of the provisions contained shall
be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, the validity,
legality, and enforceability of the remaining
provisions shall not in any way be affected or
impaired thereby.
SECTION 31: 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 Medical Act of 1959 (R.A. 2382, as
amended by R.A. 4224), the Clinical Laboratory Act of
1966 (R.A. 4688), and the Blood Banking Law of 1956
(R.A. 1517).
SECTION 32: EFFECTIVITY
 This Act shall take effect upon its approval