[ REPUBLIC ACT NO.

5527, June 21, 1969 ]

AN ACT REQUIRING THE REGISTRATION OF MEDICAL TECHNOLOGISTS, DEFINING THEIR

PRACTICE, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress

assembled:

SECTION 1.  Title.—This Act may be also cited as the Philippine Medical Technology Act of
1969.

SEC. 2.  Definition of Terms. —As used in this Act, the following terms shall mean:

(a) "Medical Technology".—An auxiliary branch of laboratory medicine which deals with the
examination by various chemical, microscopic, bacteriologic and other medical laboratory
procedures or technic which will aid the physician in the diagnosis, study and treatment of
disease and in the promotion of health in general.

As amended from PD 498:

(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, miscroscopic, 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. Histopatholgic and Cytotechnology; provided that nothing in this paragraph shall inhibit a
duly registered medical laboratory technician from performing histopathologic techniques and
procedures.

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,

Provided, that any person who shall passed the corresponding Board examination for the
practice of a profession already regulated by existing laws, shall not be subject to the
provisions of at last four (4) preceding paragraphs if the performance of such acts or services is
merely incidental to his profession.

(b) "Pathologist".—A duly registered physician who is specially trained in methods of

laboratory  medicine, or 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.

(c) "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.

(d) "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.

As amended from PD 498:

(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.”

(e) "Accredited Medical Technology Training Laboratory—A clinical laboratory, office, agency,
clinic, hospital  or sanitarium duly approved by the Department of Health or its authorized
agency.

(f) "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.

(g) "Council".—The council of medical technology education established under this Act.

(h) "Board".—The Board of Examiners for Medical Technology established under this Act.

Council of Medical Technology Education, Its

SEC. 3. 

Composition.—There is hereby established a Council of Medical Technology

Education, hereafter referred to as Council, which shall be composed of the Secretary of
Education or Director of Private Education as Chairman, the Director of the Bureau of Research
and Laboratories of the Department of Health as Vice-Chairman, and the Chairman and two
members of the Board of Medical Technology, the 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, as members.

As amended from PD 498:

"Sec. 3. Council of Medical Technology Education, Its Composition. There is hereby

established a Council of Medical Technology Education, hereafter referred to as Council, which
shall be composed of the Commissioner of the Professional Regulation Commission as
Chairman, the Chairman of the Board of Medical Technology as Vice-Chairman, and the two (2)
members of the Board of Medical Technology, and the Director of Private Education or its duly
authorized representative, the Director of the Bureau of Research and Laboratories of the
Department of Health, and a representative of the deans or heads of the private schools of
medical technology, as members.”

As amended by PD 1534:

"Sec. 3. Council of Medical Technology Education; Its Composition. There is hereby

established a Council of Medical Technology Education hereafter referred to as the Council,
which shall be composed of the Director of Higher Education as Chairman; the Chairman of the
Professional Regulation Commission as Vice-Chairman; and the Director of the Bureau of
Research and Laboratories of the Department of Health, the Chairman and two (2) 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 Technologies, as members.”

SEC. 4. Compensation and Traveling Expenses of Council

Members.—The chairman and members of the Council shall be entitled to a twenty-five
pesos per diem for every meeting actually attended: Provided, That the number of 

meetings authorized with a per diem shall not exceed two in a month: And

Provided, further, That officials receiving regular salaries from the Government shall
not receive per diem. In addition the chairman and members of the council shall be
entitled to traveling expenses in connection with their official duties.

As amended by PD 498:

"Sec. 4. Compensation and Traveling Expenses of Council Members. For every meeting
actually attended, the Chairman shall be entitled to a fifty pesos (P50.00) per diem while the
members shall be entitled to twenty-five pesos (P25.00) each regardless of whether or not they
receive regular salaries from the government. In addition, the Chairman and members of the
Council shall be entitled to traveling expenses in connection with their official duties.”

SEC. 5. Functions of the Council of Medical Technology Education.—The

functions of the Council shall be:

(a) To recommend the minimum required curriculum for the course of medical technology.

(b) To determine and prescribe the number of students to be allowed to take up the medical
technology course in  each school, taking into account the student-instructor ratio and the
availability of facilities for instruction.

(c) To approve medical technology schools meeting the requirements and recommend closure
of those found to be substandard.

(d) 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, a list of their
recent graduates and new admissions, on or "before the month of June.

(e) To inspect, when necessary, the different medical technology schools in the  country in
order to determine whether a high standard of education is  maintained  in said institutions.

(f) To certify for admission into an undergraduate internship students who have satisfactorily
completed three years of the medical technology course or its equivalent and to collect from
said students the amount of five pesos each which money accrue to the operating fund of the
council.

(g) Formulate and recommend approval of refresher course for applicants who shall have failed
the Board Examination for the third time.

(h) To promulgate and prescribe and enforce necessary rules and regulations for the proper
implementation of the foregoing functions.

SEC. 6.  Minimum Required Course .—The medical technology course shall
be at least four years,    including a 12-month satisfctory internship in accredited laboratories,

and shall include 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
Clinical Laboratory
Qualitative Chemistry
Methods
including hemotology,
serology, blood banking,
clinical microscopy,
applied microbiology,
Quantitative Chemistry
and parasitology,
histopathologic
techniques,  and cyto-
technology.
The Council is hereby 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.

SEC. 7.  Board of Examiners for Medical Technology. — There is

hereby created a Board of Examiners for Medical Technology which shall hereafter be referred
to as the Board composed of a chairman who is a pathologist appointed by the President of
the Philippines from a list submitted by the Philippine Society of Pathologists and two
members who are registered medical technologists appointed by the President of the
Philippines from among a list submitted by the Philippine Association of Medical Technologists
each one to serve a term of three years:  Provided
, That the first .Board to be created one
member who shall act as chairman shall serve for three years, one member for two years and
the third member for one year:  And provided, further,  That the first members of
the Board of Examiners for Medical Technology shall be issued a certificate of registration as
Medical Technologist without prior examination in accordance with the provisions of this Act.
No member shall be allowed more than 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.

As amended by PD 498:

"Sec. 7. Medical Technology Board. There is hereby created a Medical Technology Board
under the Professional Regulation Commission, which shall thereafter be referred to as the
Board composed of a Chairman who is a pathologist, and two (2) members who are registered
medical technologists who shall be appointed by the President of the Republic of the
Philippines upon recommendation of the Professional Regulation Commission. The Chairman
and members of the Board shall hold office for three (3) years after appointment or until their
successors shall have been appointed and duly qualified: Provided, That the incumbent
members will continue to serve until the expiration of their terms.

In case of death, disability, or removal of a member of the Board, his successor shall serve only
the balance of his terms.”

SEC. 8. Qualifications of Examiners .—No person shall be appointed a

member of the Board of Examiners for Medical Technology unless he or she:

(1) is a Filipino citizen;

(2) is of good moral character;

(3) is a qualified pathologist or duly registered medical technologist of the Philippines with the
degree of Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology/Bachelor of Science in Hygiene;

As amended by PD 1534:

(3) 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; . . . .”

(4) has been in the practice of laboratory medicine or medical technology for at least ten years
prior to his appointment, and

(5) is not a member of the faculty of any medical technology school, or have any pecuniary

Provided, however
interest, direct or indirect, in such institution:  , That for the first
three years following the approval of this Act, the requirement mentioned in number four (4)
shall be reduced to five years.

As amended by PD 498:

"Sec. 8. Qualification of Examiners. No person shall be appointed a member of the Medical

Technology Board unless he or she:

1) . . .

2) . . .

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) . . .

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.”

SEC. 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 of 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.

SEC. 10.  Compensation of Members of the Board of

Examiners for Medical Technology.—Each member of the Board shall
receive a sum of ten pesos for each applicant examined and five pesos for each applicant
granted a certificate of registration without examination.

SEC. 11. Functions and Duties of the Board. —The Board is vested with
authority and required, conformably with the provisions of this Act, to:

(a) Administer the provisions of this Act;

(b) Administer oaths  in connection with the administration of this Act;

(c) Issue, suspend and revoke certificates of registration for the practice of medical technology;

As amended by PD 498:

(c) Issue, suspend and revoke certificates of registration for the practice of medical technology
and medical laboratory technician;

(d) 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;

(e) Investigate such violations of this Act or of the rules and regulations issued thereunder as
 may come to the knowledge of the Board and, for this purpose issue subpoena and subpoena
duces tecum to secure appearance of witnesses and production of documents in connection
with charges presented to the Board; and

(f) Draft such rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this
Act: Provided, That the same shall be issued only after the approval of the President of the
Philippines.

Added by PD 498:

and medical laboratory technician;

(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;

(g) is repealed by PD 1534

(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.”

(i) is repealed by PD 1534

SEC. 12.  Removal of Board Members. —Any member of the Board may be
removed by the President of the Philippines for neglect of duty, incompetency, malpractice or
unprofessional, unethical, immoral or dishonorable conduct after having been given

opportunity to defend himself in a proper administrative investigation;  Provided , That

during the process of investigation, the President shall have the power to suspend such
member under investigation and appoint a temporary member in his place.

Accreditation of Schools of Medical Technology

SEC. 13. 

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 upon satisfactory evidence that said
laboratories possess qualified personnel and are properly equipped to carry out laboratory
procedures commonly required in the following fields: bacteriology, serology, parasitology,
hematology, and biochemistry, and that the scope of activities of said laboratory offer sufficient
training in said laboratory procedures.

As amended by PD 498:

"Sec. 13. Accreditation of Schools of Medical Technology and of Training Laboratories. Upon
the recommendation of the Medical Technology Board, the Department of Education and
Culture shall approve schools of medical technology in accordance with the provisions of this
Decree. The Professional Regulation Commission upon recommendation of the Medical
Technology Board shall approve laboratories for accreditations as training laboratories for
medical technology students or post graduate trainees upon satisfactory evidence that said
laboratories possess qualified personnel and are properly equipped to carry out laboratory
procedures commonly required in the following fields: bacteriology, serology, parasitology,
hematology, biochemistry and blood banking, and that the scope of activities of said laboratory
offer sufficient training in said laboratory procedure.”

As amended by PD 1534:

"Sec. 13. Accreditation of Schools of Medical Technology and of Training Laboratories. The
Department of Education and Culture shall approve schools of Medical Technology in
accordance with the provisions of this Act, as amended, in conjunction with the Board of
Medical Technology. The Department of Health through the Bureau of Research and
Laboratories shall approve laboratories for accreditation as training laboratories for medical
technology students or post-graduate trainees in conjunction with the Board of Medical
Technology. The laboratories shall show satisfactory evidence that they possess qualified
personnel and are properly equipped to carry out laboratory procedures commonly required in
the following fields: Clinical Chemistry, Microbiology, Serology, Parasitology, Hematology,
Blood Banking, Clinical Microscopy, and Histopathologic techniques, and that the scope of
activities of said laboratories offer sufficient training in said laboratory procedures.”

SEC. 14. Inhibition Against the Practice of Medical

Technology.—No person shall practice or offer to practice medical technology as
denned in this Act without having previously obtained a valid certificate of registration from the
Board provided that registration shall not be required of the following:

(a) Duly registered physicians.

(b) Medical technologists from other countries, called  in for consultation or as visiting or
exchange professors to colleges or universities: Provided, That they are only practicing the said
function.

As amended by PD 498:

(b) Has completed a course of at least four (4) years leading to the degree of Bachelor of
Science in Medical Technology or Bachelor of Science in Public Health conferred by a
recognized school, college or university in accordance with this Decree or having graduated
from some other profession and has been actually performing medical technology for the last
five (5) years prior to the date of the examinations, if such performance began prior to June 21,
1969.”

(c) Medical technologists in the service of the United  States Armed Forces stationed in the
Philippines rendering services as such for members of the said forces only.

SEC. 15. Examination .—Except as otherwise specifically allowed under the provisions

of this Act, all applicants for registration as medical technologists shall be required to undergo
a written examination which shall be given by the Board annually in the greater Manila area,
Cebu and Davao during the month of August or September on such days and places as the
Board may designate. Written notices of such examination shall be published in at least three
newspapers of national circulation by the Secretary of the Board at least thirty days prior to the
date of examination.

SEC. 16. Qualification for Examination .—Every applicant for examination

under this Act, shall, prior to the date thereof, furnish the Board satisfactory proof that he or
she:

(a) Is in good health and is of good moral character;

(b) Has completed a course of at least four years leading to the degrees of Bachelor of Science
in Medical Technology or Bachelor of Science in Hygiene conferred by a recognized school,
college or university in accordance with this Act and all other persons having graduated from
other paramedical professions who are actually performing medical technology for the last five
years prior to the enactment of this Act provided they meet the minimum requirements
mentioned in Section Six except the one year undergraduate internship or practical training.

Amendment from RA 6138

"Sec. 16.    Qualification for Examination. — Every applicant for examination under this Act,
shall, prior to the date thereof, furnish the Board satisfactory proof that he or she:

"(a)    In good health and is of good moral character; 

"(b)    Has completed a course of at least four years leading to the degree of Bachelor of
Science in Medical Technology or Bachelor of Science in Hygiene conferred by a recognized
school, college or university in accordance with this Act or having graduated from some other
paramedical profession has been actually performing medical technology for the last five years
prior to the date of the examination, if such performance began prior to the enactment of this
Act."

SEC. 17. Scope of Examination .—The examination question shall cover the

following subjects with their respective relative weights:

  
Clinical  Chemistry 20%
Microbiology and Parasitology 20%
Hematology 20%
Blood Banking and Serology 20%
Clinical Microscopy (Urinalysis and other
10%
body fluids)
Histopathologic Technique 10%
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 months before the date of
examination. The Board shall compute the general average of each examinee according to the
above-mentioned relative weights of the subjects:  Provided, however , That the
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.

As amended by PD 498:

"Sec. 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 & Serology 20%
Clinical Microscopy (Urinalysis and other body fluids) 10%
Histopathologic Techniques, Cytotechnology, Medical Technology
Laws, Related Laws and its implementing rules, and the Code of 10%
Ethics

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. The Board shall compute the general average of each
examinee according to the above-mentioned relative weights of each subject. Provided,
however, that the 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.”

SEC. 18. Report of Rating. —The Board shall, within one hundred and twenty days
after the date of completion of the examination, report the result thereof to the Commissioner
of Civil Service, who shall submit such result to the President of the Philippines for approval

SEC. 19. Ratings in the Examination. —In order to pass the examination, a

candidate must obtain a general average of at least seventy-five per cent in the written test,

Provided
with no rating below fifty per cent in any of the major subjects:  , That the
candidate has not failed in at least sixty per cent of the subjects computed according to their
relative weights. No further examination will be given an applicant who has not qualified after
three examinations, unless and until he shall have completed 12 months refresher course in an
accredited medical technology school or 12-month postgraduate training in an accredited

laboratory:Provided , That graduate of paramedical professions other than Bachelor of

Science in Medical Technology/Bachelor of Science in Hygiene admitted to an examination
under the provisions of this Act shall not be given further examinations after his failure to

qualify for the third time.

SEC. 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.

SEC. 21. Issuance of Certificate of Registration. — Every applicant

who has satisfactorily passed the required examination, shall be issued a certificate of

registration as Medical Technologist: Provided , That no such certificate shall be issued to

any successful applicant who has not attained the age of twenty-one years. All certificates shall
be signed by all the members of the Board and attested by its Secretary. The duly registered
medical technologist shall be required to display his certificate of registration in the place
where he works. Upon application filed after the approval of this Act not later than ninety days
after the Board shall have been fully constituted, the Board shall issue a certificate of
registration without examination to persons who have been 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 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, and also to all 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.

Amendment from RA 6138

"Sec. 21.    Issuance of Certificate of Registration. — Every applicant two has satisfactorily
passed the required examination, shall be issued a certificate of registration as Medical
Technologist: provided, that no such certificate shall be issued to any successful applicant who
has not attained the age of twenty-one years. All certificates shall be signed by all the
members of the Board and attested by its Secretary. The duly registered medical technologists
shall be required to display his certificate of registration in the place where he works. Upon
application filed after the approval of this Act not later than ninety days after the Board shall
have been fully constituted, the Board shall issue a certificate of registration without
examination to persons who have been 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 who have been in the practice of medical
technology, for at least three years prior to the filing of the application, in laboratories in the
Philippines or in foreign countries duly accredited by the Bureau of Research and Laboratories,
Department of Health, and also to all 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
years prior to the filing of the application." 

As amended by PD 498:

"Sec. 21. Issuance of Certificate of Registration. Every applicant who has satisfactorily passed
the required examination for medical technologist shall be issued a certificate of registration as
such. Provided that no such certificate shall be issued to any successful applicant who has not
attained the age of twenty-one (21) years. All certificate shall be signed by the members of the
Board and by the Commissioner of the Professional Regulation Commission. The duly
registered medical technologist shall be required to display his certificate of registration in the
place where he works. Provided, that upon application filed and the payment of the required
fee of one hundred and fifteen pesos (P115.00) the Board shall issue a certificate of registration
as medical technologist without examination to persons who have been graduated with
Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology/Bachelor of Science in Public Health in duly
recognized schools of medical technology in the Philippines or in any foreign country, provided,
that in case of the latter, the standard of medical technology education is substantially the
same as ours, and in addition shall have been in the practice of medical technology for at least
three (3) years prior to the filing of the application in laboratories in the Philippines duly
accredited by the Bureau of Research and Laboratories, Department of Health, or in foreign
countries if such performance began prior to June 21, 1969 and also to all other persons who
having 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.

Provided, further, that the Board shall likewise 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) show evidence satisfactory to the Board that:

1. He or she passed the civil service examination for medical technician on March 21, 1964; or

2. 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; Provided, further, that an applicant 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; or

3. Has failed to pass the board examination for medical technology but had obtained a general
rating of at least 70%. Provided, finally, that a registered medical laboratory technician when
employed in the government shall have the equivalent civil service eligibility not lower than
second grade.”

SEC. 22. 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.

As amended from RA 6138

"Sec. 22.    Fees. — The Board shall charge each applicant for examination and registration the
sum of fifty pesos, of which the sum of ten pesos shall be for registration, 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 a 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. Refusal to Issue Certificate. —The Board shall refuse to issue a

certificate of registration to any person convicted by a court of competent jurisdiction of any
criminal offense involving moral turpitude, or any person guilty of immoral or dishonorable
conduct, or of unsound mind, or 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.

Administrative Investigation-Revocation or
SEC. 24. 

Suspension of Certificates:—Administrative investigations shall be

conducted by at least two members of the Board with one legal officer sitting during the
investigation. The existing rules of evidence shall be observed during all administrative
proceedings, the respondents shall be entitled to be represented by counsel, or be heard in
person, to have a speedy and public hearing, to confront and cross-examine witnesses against
him or her, and to all other rights guaranteed by the Constitution.

The Board may, after giving proper notice and hearing to the party concerned reprimand an
erring medical technologist or revoke or suspend his certificate of registration for the causes
mentioned in the next preceding section or for causes enumerated in section twenty-nine (29)
of this Act, or 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.

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.

SEC. 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
days after its promulgation, unless the respondent within the same period has appealed to the
office of the President of the Philippines.

Reinstatement, Reissue or Replacement of

SEC. 26. 

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 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. Foreign Reciprocity. —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 of which he is a subject or a citizen permits Filipino Medical
Technologists to practice within territorial limits on the same basis as the subjects or citizens of
said country or state.

SEC. 28. 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 this Act shall become effective. This roster shall contain the name,
address and citizenship of each registered Medical Technologist, date of registration or
issuance of certificate, and 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 to each person
included therein, placed on file in the Office of the President, furnished all Department Heads
and all bureaus, offices and instrumentalities of the Department of Health and to such other
offices, private or governmental, and to the public upon request.

SEC. 29. Penal Provisions. —Without prejudice to the provision of the Medical Act
of 1959 as amended relating to illegal practice of Medicine, the following shall be punished by
a fine of not less than two thousand pesos nor more than five thousand pesos, or
imprisonment for not less than six months nor more than two years, or both, in 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 this 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 or any
member thereof in obtaining a certificate of registration as Medical Technologist ;

(g) Any person who shall impersonate any registrant of like 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 or 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; or

As amended by PD 498:

"(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.”

(k) Any person or corporate body who shall violate the rules and regulations of 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.

SEC. 30. 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.

SEC. 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).

From PD 498:

Section 12. 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.

Section 12 of PD 498 amended as follows:

"Sec. 12. Repealing Clause. All those Executive Order, Decrees, Rules and Regulations, or
parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Decree are hereby repealed, amended or
modified accordingly: Provided, however, That nothing in this Decree shall be construed as
repealing or amending any portion of the Medical Act of 1959 (Republic Act No. 2382, as
amended by Republic Act No. 4224), and the Clinical Laboratory Act of 1966 (Republic Act No.
4688), and the Blood Banking Law of 1956 (Republic Act No. 1517), and the Rules and
Regulations issued pursuant to these laws.”

SEC 32. Effectivity.-This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved, June 21, 1969.