by Lizzie Elzingre

Created on: January 30, 2009

The Philippines is widely recognized as an education gateway. With English as the medium of instruction, it is third largest English-speaking country with an overall literacy rate of 95.9%.

The cost of education in the Philippines is hard to beat. It is one of the most affordable programs available globally. The Philippines college education usually takes four to five years, and as long as eight years in medical and law schools.

Among the hundreds of educational institutions, 63 universities and schools offer bachelor's degree programs in medical technology, and two offer master's degree programs. In the MT four-year degree program, the student attends classroom courses for 3 years and clinical rotations for 1 year.

Medical Technology education in the Philippines began in 1960. Since then, the country has been molding medical technologists for the world health industry who are scientifically and technologically competent to deliver the full spectrum of Medical Technology services required in modern health care.

Medical technology education in the Philippines trains students in the performance of laboratory test procedures and analyses used in the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of disease, with the use of modern equipment and scientific techniques. Course specialties include clinical biochemistry, hematology, coagulation, microbiology, bacteriology, virology, parasitology, mycology, immunology, immune-hematology, histopathology, cytopathology, genetics, cytogenetics, and IVF labs.

The first three years deals with the broad knowledge of basic and health sciences. To create the best environment for students to master the principles and theories of medicine, medical schools link health-service needs, top health-professionals, advance training facilities including programs, and new advances of the ever-changing care environment.

At the end of the four-year course, students are competent in scientific research, methods, and processes having acquired skills in instrumentation, laboratory diagnosis, methodology, and life-saving procedures. In addition, students show qualities, attitudes and values needed to become competitive and effective member of the health care delivery system.

As hospitals and labs in the United States find it cheaper to send some of their core and non-core medical processes overseas, the Philippines' medical sector is growing by the day. The 2006 review cited the Philippines advantage as with huge pool of highly skilled medical technology professionals with the ability to work with people of different ethnicities.

Medical technologists from the Philippines are in high demand because of the industry's emphasis on diagnosing and treating diseases. In addition, the similarity in health system makes medical technologists trained in the Philippines comfortable in U.S. laboratories.

Medical technology professionals may work behind the scenes but they do contribute to saving lives. They may come from the Philippines but they are true to their commitment to quality and to the community they serve.

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