Philippine Medical Association

On September 29, 1898 , during the late Spanish era , a board of health was organized, composed of nurses; sanidades and physicians. The Collegio Medico Farmaceotica de Filipinas was formed to supervise the health care of the people.

Then in 1899, after the defeat of the Philippine forces led by General Emilio Aguinaldo, the Americans established an interim military government with General Arthur Mc Arthur, father of General Douglas Mc Arthur, as the acting military governor. As soon as peace and order was established, a civilian governor was appointed in the person of, William Howard Taft.

Governor Taft observed the poor, unhygienic condition, Malnutrition and disease proliferation in the island. Hence, he sought the assistance of the American Red Cross. The Taft government likewise requested for aid and support from the U.S. congress. The American Medical Association advised that in order to facilitate aid and support from the U.S. congress, it had to be through a Medical society. Hence Governor Taft then recruited the brigade surgeon of the 7th U.S. army corps, Major John Rich Mc Dill. and on July 9, 1902, the Manila Medical Society was formed with Dr. Mc Dill as president. The Manila Medical Society then requested U.S. congress for aid and assistance in the health care delivery to the entire islands. However, the U.S. Congress response was that since the Manila Medical Society is only an organization of urban scope, it did not qualify for a U.S. Congress approval.

Governor Taft determined to pursue his request for U.S. Congress assistance instructed Dr. Mc Dill to organize a broader national medical association. Hence with, the Manila Medical Society as the nucleus, together with the members of the Collegio Medico Farmaceotica de Filipinas, the Philippine Islands Medical Association was founded on the 15th of September, 1903 with Dr. Joseph M. O’Connor as its first president. Since then the health budget of the Taft government was subsidized by the U.S. congress until the Philippines was granted its independence

The Philippine Islands Medical Association organized Filipino physicians and updated their professional expertise. It influenced the government to form a second medical school, the precursor to UP-PGH (UST being the first) and organized a national health system that controlled communicable diseases, malnutrition and Tuberculosis, Leading to the setting up of the Santolan Sanitarium for the treatment of Tuberculosis. The PIMA also founded the bureau of health and worked for the establishment of St. Paul hospital; Mary Johnston hospital and the Philippine General hospital. It also organized the bureau of research laboratories and developed farms which produced sera; vaccine; and biological chemicals of medical use. PIMA discovered Beriberi in the new born and it developed “tikitiki” from rice bran as treatment.

The Philippine Islands Medical Association adapted and amended the American Medical Association Code of Ethics. In 1934, it created the Liga Anti Cancerosa de Filipinas (the Philippine Cancer society) ,and the Women’s auxiliary to the PIMA to assist the association’s activities. The PIMA likewise set up Cancer hospitals with diagnostic and therapeutic facilities.

In 1939, the PIMA president was elected in congress and moved legislations for the establishment of the Department of Health.

In July 1946, the Philippines became independent from the United States, thereby the PIMA lost its U.S. congress subsidy. The PIMA changed its name to PMA or the Philippine Medical Association.

Now named Philippine Medical Association, it created the board of examiners in Medicine and Surgery. In 1954, it joined the World Medical Association and later founded CMAAO. During the incumbence of President Quirino, a Medicine day was declared, which later became endorsed to be the Medicine Week, by President Magsaysay. During the term of President Garcia, these dates were observed in every 4th week of September.

The PMA also created the food and drug administration, and likewise requested President Marcos to create the Medicare commission which later became the present day Philhealth. The PMA likewise launched the MARIA project which send physicians to doctorless rural communities in the Philippines.

The Philippine Medical Association, also a member of the MASEAN celebrated its 110th anniversary last September 15, 2013. And this coming May 2014 ,it will hold its 107th Annual Convention, with Dr. Leo Olarte as it’s incumbent president, with numerous delegates representing the 118 Component Societies; 8 Specialty Divisions with its Specialties and Subspecialties, 36 Affiliate Medical Societies. The Philippine Medical Association hopes to succeed in ratifying the Proposed Amendments to the PMA Constitution and By-Laws and the PMA-FILINVEST building project during the General Assembly.

There are approximately 140 thousand Filipino physicians in the whole world and half of which are Philippine based. All are cheering “Mabuhay PMA“, with its world class excellence and expertise.