TO HELP promote medical tourism in the Philippines, the Department of Trade and Industry has urged medical laboratories to seek accreditation so they can be recognized globally for quality health care services.

Through its Philippine Accreditation Office (PAO), the DTI launched its accreditation scheme, which is expected to help clinical laboratories improve the credibility of their medical services.

?Accuracy of medical test results is crucial, for it is the basis of a medical practitioner?s diagnosis. A patient?s life is at risk if test results and interpretations are erroneous,? said Zenaida Maglaya, Trade Undersecretary for consumer welfare.

?Thus, it is important to have an independent body such as PAO assess the quality of services provided by medical laboratories,? Maglaya added.

Maglaya explained that a medical laboratory accreditation would give patients the confidence in the medical institution administering laboratory tests as its technical competence complies with ISO 15189:2007, the international standard used for medical laboratory accreditation.

?Moreover, patients are assured that the personnel of accredited medical laboratories are competent and well trained to perform and interpret tests, provide reliable diagnosis, and conduct appropriate treatment,? she added.

The first ISO 15189:2007 certificate of accreditation has been awarded to the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) Medical Laboratory in Quezon City.