PCQACL : History
The Philippine Council for Quality Assurance in Clinical Laboratories (PCQACL) is a non-government, non-stock, non-profit organization composed of health professional associations, clinical laboratories, both hospital-based and free standing, and industry partners. The Council consists of representatives of regular, institutional and corporate members. PCQACL’s vision is to be “the leader in promoting Quality Services provided by Clinical Laboratories in the Philippines by means of Advocacy, Training, education, and Research.” PCQACL is driven by its mission to be “a dynamic, highly professional organization continually committed to the promotion of Quality Services by Clinical Laboratories through Training and education, Publication and Research in collaboration with government agencies and other health professional organizations, national and international.” PCQACL promotes quality assurance in all laboratory and administrative procedures through the training of Clinical Laboratory staff in the implementation of the standards for Quality Management System for Clinical Laboratories.
PCQACL through its Committee on Continuing education and Research conducts annual conventions, symposia, seminars, round table conferences and workshops to equip and enhance the capabilities and competencies of Pathologists, Medical Technologists, and other health professionals. espousing a multidisciplinary approach in the delivery of quality health care, Clinicians, Hospital administrators, nurses and other allied health professionals have been invited to speak at annual conventions, symposia, round table panel discussions, etc. to contribute their perspective to the topic presented.
Establishment of PCQACL
During the First Asian Colloquium on February 18-20, 1999, at the University of Indonesia School of Medicine in Jakarta, Indonesia, the Asian Network for Clinical Laboratory Standardization and Harmonization (ANCLS) was established. At this time, it was proposed that Asian Quality Assessment Survey (AQuAS) be created with the Regional Coordinator based in the Republic of Korea. A Filipino, Dr. Tomas P. Maramba, Jr. was elected as Chairman of the ANCLS Steering Committee, later referred to as the President of ANCLS.
As a sequel to the First Asian Colloquium, representatives of the Philippine Society of Pathologists (PSP), Philippine Association of Medical Technologists (PAMeT), the then Bureau of Research Laboratories (BRL, DOH) and Philippine Society for Quality in Health Care (PSQua) met in March 1999 to discuss measures to revive the National external Quality Assessment Program to elevate the quality of clinical laboratory services. The series of meetings led to the establishment of the Philippine Council for Quality Assurance in Clinical Laboratories (PCQACL) with the following charter members: PSP, PAMeT, PSQua, Philippine Society of Hematology and Blood Transfusion (PSHBT), Philippine College of Hospital Administrators (PCHA) and the then Medical equipment Diagnostics Association of the Philippines (MeDAP). The registration of PCQACL with the Securities and exchange Commission (SeC) was approved on November 15, 2000. Subsequently, the Council invited clinical laboratories, both hospital-based and free-standing as institutional members now numbering about 800. Seven (9) laboratory diagnostic companies have been accepted as corporate members.
The objectives in the establishment of PCQACL are the following:
- To promote Quality Assurance / Improvement in Clinical Laboratories, both in the public and private sectors among political and health administrators, health professionals, educators, and other laboratory workers.
- To conduct continuing professional education programs in Quality Assurance/ Improvement in clinical laboratories in cooperation with health professional associations.
- To publish a newsletter and other relevant publications on Quality Assurance/ Improvement in Clinical Laboratories.
- To promote research in the area of quality laboratory services.
- To collaborate with government agencies and health professional organizations concerned with regulation, provision, and financing of laboratory services in establishing scientifically sound and practical standards, rules, and procedures in accreditation, quality assurance, performance monitoring, utilization review, technology assessment, outcome evaluation, and related areas.
- To establish and maintain relationships with appropriate Asian regional and national organizations and international agencies concerned with quality laboratory services such as the World Health Organization, International Federation in Clinical Chemistry, International Council for Standardization in Hematology and National Committee on Clinical Laboratory Standardization (now Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute).
Organization of the NEQAS in the Philippines
On June 14, 2002, PCQACL launched the National external Quality Assessment Survey (NeQAS) in a symposium at the Quezon City Sports Club which was attended by Pathologists, Medical Technologists, and Administrators of hospitals. In accordance with its objectives, PCQACL conducted the 1st NeQAS in Hematology undertaken by a Committee chaired by Dr. Januario D. Veloso, Jr. The 1st NeQAS in Clinical Chemistry was conducted by a Committee chaired by Dr. Ariel Vergel de Dios. In subsequent years, PCQACL has conducted several NeQAS as follows:
- 10 in Hematology
- 8 in Clinical Chemistry
- 2 in Blood Banking
- 3 in Coagulation
DOH Standards for Quality Management System (QMS) for Clinical Laboratories
The Manual of Standards on the Quality Management System for Clinical Laboratories was developed by a Task Force composed of representatives from the Department of Health (DOH), National Reference Laboratories (NRLs), PCQACL, PSP, and PAMeT. Its goal was to assist clinical laboratories in improving the quality of their services by training and implementation of the Standards for QMS. It was envisioned that the Standards for QMS will later be the basis for a National Accreditation Scheme for Clinical Laboratories in the country.
The representatives from PCQACL in the Task Force have actively participated in the formulation of the Standards and Criteria, the Assessment Tools, and Training Manual on Quality Management System for Clinical Laboratories. They have trained Assessors, Trainers, and Facilitators in the Standards, Assessment, and Quality Improvement, and have trained laboratory staff in three NRLs and several laboratories in the NCR.
Monograph on PCQACL's Standardization and Harmonization of Complete Blood Count in the Philippines
The monograph on PCQACL’s Standardization and Harmonization of Complete Blood Count in the Philippines is the first of a series of monographs embarked on by the PCQACL Committee on Continuing education and Research chaired by Dr. Marissa A. Orillaza. The Committee conducted Round Table Discussion and Consensus Building activities nationwide obtaining inputs from various sectors of the health community in the formulation of the monograph. The CBC monograph was launched on the first day of the PCQACL 8th Annual Convention held on October 26, 2011, at the Crowne Plaza Galleria. PCQACL awarded to C & e Publishing, Inc. the responsibility for the publication and sales of the monograph. It is now available at C & e Bookshops nationwide and at the PCQACL office or its authors.
National Framework and Strategic Plan for National Health Laboratory Network
PCQACL was represented in the Task Force LABNeT which formulated the National Framework and Strategic Plan for National Health Laboratory Network (NHLN) in 2010. It also actively participated in the formulation of the Standards and Criteria, Assessment Tools for the Strategies of the Strategic Plan for NHLN, and Training Manual for the Laboratory Action Plan. Subsequently, the Committee on Lab Action Plan has conducted training in Lab Action Plan for laboratory staff of 23 DOH and LGU hospitals from NCR and Region III.
PCQACL, upon recommendation of the DOH-National Center for Health Facility Development (NCHFD), was tapped as the Technical Assistance (TA) provider and event organizer for the Launching of the National Framework and Strategic Plan for NHLN embodied in DOH Administrative Order No. 2012-0021. The Launch was held successfully on November 9, 2012 at Hotel H20, Luneta, Manila during which top officials of the DOH, representatives of WHO and health professional associations, Directors of Hospitals, Pathologists and Medical Technologists were informed of the importance of quality laboratory services and investment in the clinical laboratories.