February 14, 2014
ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER
No. 2014 – 0006
GUIDELINES
ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF REGIONAL LABORATORY NETWORK AS PART OF THE NATIONAL
FRAMEWORK OF THE NATIONAL HEALTH LABORATORY
NETWORK
I. RATIONALE
Pursuant
to the achievement of quality service and accessible health facilities which in
one of the strategies of Universal Health care (Kalusugan Pangkalahatan), the
Department of Health promulgated Administrative Order No. 2012 – 0021
entitled “National Framework of the National Health Laboratory Network (NHLN)”
and the “Strategic Plan for the National Health Laboratory Network in the
Philippine for 2011 – 2016.” The vision of the Strategic Plan is the
development of a National Health Laboratory Network that provides quality,
reliable, affordable and accessible laboratory services and information for the
appropriate management of patients and prevention / control of diseases. The
laboratory network serves as a support mechanism for building the capacity of
the laboratories to implement the strategies of the Strategic Plan for the
NHLN. The goals of the Strategic Plan are:
(1) The development and operation of an efficient,
effective, sustainable National Health Laboratory Network (NHLN);
(2) The establishment of laboratory services that meet
local and international quality standards;
(3) Laboratory services that provide safe working
conditions for laboratory staff, patients and the community;
(4) National policies, budget and financial support that
ensure fiscal sustainability.
The
implementation of the nine (9) strategies of the Strategic Plan for the NHLN
will be done at 3 levels, i.e., at the National Level as provided in DPO No.
2013 – 5724; at the Regional level through a Regional Laboratory Network; and
at the Laboratory level through the training and implementation of a
“Laboratory Action Plan” of clinical laboratories in every Regional Laboratory
Network. This issuance provides the Guidelines in establishing and maintaining
the Regional Laboratory Network, stating the objectives, structure and
operation of such a network.
The Regional Laboratory Network shall serve to
strengthen the capabilities of each laboratory within the network in
implementing the strategies of the Strategic Plan. Networking shall include
training activities, consultation meetings at all levels where issues, problems
and needs are discussed, best practices shared, dissemination of administrative
issuances and other directives, reagents and other resources and data
exchanged. The aim of networking is to ensure that all health laboratories work
harmoniously in an effective, practical and functional way.
II. OBJECTIVE
This
Order is issued to promulgate guidelines in the establishment and operation of
a Regional Laboratory Network pursuant to Administrative Order No. 2012 –
0021.
III. SCOPE /
COVERAGE
These
guidelines shall apply to clinical laboratories of national and local
government hospitals in rural health facilities and of private hospital–based
and free–standing clinical laboratories in urban and rural areas of the country
and shall be implemented by responsible DOH Undersecretaries, Assistant
Secretaries, Directors of Bureaus, Centers for Health Development, Services and
Specialty Hospitals, Directors/Chiefs of Medical Centers and Hospitals,
Provincial, City and Municipal Health Officers and all others concerned.
IV. DEFINITION
OF TERMS
For
the purposes of this Order, the following terms and acronyms shall have the
following definition:
1. Clinical
laboratory – refers to a facility
where tests are done on specimen from the human body to obtain information
about the health status of a patient for the diagnosis, prevention and
treatment of diseases.
2. Laboratory
network – refers to a group of
laboratories who join together with a common vision, assist each other and
share services, material and human resources and information.
3. Technical
expert – refers to a person with a
high degree of knowledge and skill in a particular technical field or subject.
4. Quality
service – refers to service based on
standards to meet customer needs and requirements.
5. “Laboratory
Action Plan” – refers to a plan of
activities designed for the laboratory to implement the strategies of the
Strategic Plan for the NHLN.
6. Free
standing clinical laboratory – refers
to a plan of activities designed for the laboratory to implement the strategies
of the Strategic Plan for the NHLN.
7. Modified
Gantt Chart – refers to a monitoring
tool that shows both the planned and completed work over a period of time.
8. Level of
Laboratories – refers to the
hierarchy of laboratories based on the administrative levels of government and
required functions and service capabilities.
9. CHD – acronym of the National Unit for Health
Laboratories
10. NHLN –
acronym for the National Health Laboratory Network
V. IMPLEMENTING
MECHANISM
A. GENERAL
GUIDELINES
1. The implementation of the nine (9) strategies of the
Strategic Plan for the National Health Laboratory Network shall be done at
three (3) levels:
a. At the National Level as provided in DPO No. 2012 –
5724 with the following organizational structure:
(1) National Unit for Health Laboratories (NUHL) under the
National Center for Health Facility Development, DOH
(2) National Advisory Council for NHLN
(3) National Technical Working Group (TWG) for
implementation of the Strategic Plan for NHLN
b. At the Regional Level in which a Regional Team leads
the implementation through a Regional Laboratory Network
c. At the Laboratory Network in which each laboratory is
trained to formulate and carry–out a Laboratory Action Plan enabling the
laboratory to implement the nine (9) strategies of the Strategic Plan for NHLN
2. At the National level, the Strategic Plan for the
National Health Laboratory Network (NHLN) shall provide the general policies
and strategies for elevating the quality of the health laboratory services and
networking among health laboratories at different levels in each region.
a. The National Technical Working Group (TWG) for the
Strategic Plan for NHLN shall assist the NUHL in the implementation of the
Strategic Plan and provide standards, guidelines, and training and resource
persons to the Regional Laboratory Networks.
b. The NUHL and TWG for the Strategic Plan shall assist
the Regional Laboratory Network in the implementation of their Regional
Laboratory Network Action Plans.
3. In every region, a Regional Laboratory Network shall
be organized led by a Regional Laboratory Network Council which shall develop
and implement Regional Laboratory Network Action Plans.
a. The Regional Laboratory Network Council shall
subscribe to the NHLN concepts and policies which mandate that quality
laboratory services deliver timely, reliable and affordable laboratory
information for the management of patients and for policies, planning and
operational decisions of public health programs.
b. The Regional Laboratory Network Council shall
establish linkage with the CHD for the planning, implementation and funding of
their activities.
c. The Regional Laboratory Network Council shall train
the Staff of the clinical laboratories in the Laboratory Action Plan to
implement the strategies of the Strategic Plan for NHLN.
d. Reports of accomplishment of the Regional Laboratory
Network Council shall be submitted periodically to the CHD and NUHL, NCHFD.
4. At the Laboratory level, the staff of clinical
laboratories who are members of the Regional Laboratory Network shall be
trained on Laboratory Action Plan to ensure the provision of quality service
and performance.
B. SPECIFIC
GUIDELINES
1.
Organizing
the Regional Laboratory Network:
a. Members of the
Regional Laboratory Network shall be drawn from representatives of clinical
laboratories of national and local government hospitals and rural health
facilities and of private hospital–based and free–standing clinical
laboratories. Membership shall be on voluntary basis.
b. A Regional
Laboratory Network Council, the governing body of the Network, shall be elected
by the members of the Network.
c. The Council shall
elect the Officers consisting of but not limited to a Chairman, Vice–Chairman,
Secretary and Treasurer.
d. A Management Team
consisting of full time or part time Pathologists and Senior Medical
Technologists shall be employed and trained to coordinate the planning and
implementation of activities.
e. Pathologists,
Senior Medical Technologists and other Technical Experts shall be recruited and
organized into Committees to serve as Resource Persons in formulating
Standards, Policies and Procedures and Training Programs.
f. Technical
Experts/Resource Persons shall be organized into Committees. The roles and
functions of each committee shall be identified.
g. An Organizational
Chart shall be formulated to define the authority, relationships and
accountability of various components of Regional Laboratory Network.
2. Planning
the Activities of the Regional Laboratory Network:
a. The Regional Laboratory Network Council shall adopt
Policies and Procedures for the planning, implementation, coordination and
monitoring of programs, projects and activities of the Regional Laboratory
Network.
b. The Council shall prepare a Regional Laboratory
Network Plan with the following components:
(1)
Vision, Mission,
Objectives
(2)
Priority Goals /
Strategies which may include, but not limited to:
(a)
Advocacy for the
Strategic Plan for NHLN
(b)
Training in
Laboratory Action Plan
(c)
Capacity Building
for Minimum Service Capabilities
(d)
Referral of
laboratory examinations and reporting of results
(e)
Rational use of
laboratory services
(f)
Financing of
laboratory services
c. The Council shall secure a Regional Circular from CHD
for the establishment and operation of the Regional Laboratory Network
3. Operation
and Management of the Regional Laboratory Network:
a. Implement the
activities of the Regional Laboratory Network Action Plan to attain the
priority goals.
b. Monitor the
activities through a Monitoring Plan and the Monitoring Tools (Modified Gantt
Chart).
c. Analyze and
evaluate the periodic reports of activities and accomplishments and take action
when the activities are delayed or are not done.
d. Report
accomplishments and recommendations to CHD and National Unit for Health
Laboratories, NCHFD.
e. Formulate the Regional
Action Plan for the following year. New/additional priority goals may be
included.
f. Develop linkages
and coordinate with other Regional Laboratory Networks.
C.ROLES AND
RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE REGIONAL LABORATORY NETWORK
Regional
Laboratory Network Members
1. Shall attend meetings called by the Regional
Laboratory Network Council
2. Shall support and participate in the activities of the
Council
3. Shall share experience and expertise for the
advancement of laboratory technology
4. Shall develop and implement laboratory action plan for
the improvement of the laboratory in adherence to quality management system
5. Shall be willing to render technical assistance/advise
to the other members of the network
6. Shall abide by the policies and guidelines formulated
by the Network Council.
Regional
Laboratory Network Council
1. As the governing
body of the network, shall formulate and organizational chart, standards,
policies and guidelines for its operation and implementation of activities.
2. Shall develop a
Regional Laboratory Network Action Plan, implement, monitor and evaluate its
activities.
3. Shall build
partnership with the Center for Health Development (CHD) for the planning,
conduct and funding of certain activities as indicated in the approved Work and
Financial Plan of the CHD.
4. Shall conduct
regular Council meetings to discuss reports of activities and accomplishments
and to plan for needed / required activities.
5. Shall manage
training programs as resource persons/facilitators and/or organizers in
collaboration with technical experts.
6. Shall prepare
project proposals to potential donors to fund the activities in the Regional
Network Action Plan.
7. Shall hire the
Management Team, orient them on their roles and responsibilities and supervise
their work.
8. The Council
Chairman, as member of the National Technical Working Group (TWG) for the
implementation of the Strategic Plan for the NHLN, shall submit periodic
reports to the Overall Chair of the National TWG and/or attend meetings as
necessary.
Regional
Laboratory Network Management Team
1. The Management Team, composed of a Pathologist, and a
Senior Medical Technologist, shall maintain an updated directory of the
Regional Laboratory Network members and Council Officers/members.
2. Shall regularly report to the Council President and
Secretary for assignments/update on activities.
3. Shall coordinate the planning of activities – prepare
and follow up communications and conduct visits, if necessary.
4. Shall make arrangements for the implementation of
activities, meetings or trainings.
5. Shall perform secretarial/clerical work.
6. Shall maintain file/record of network activities.
7. Shall submit
periodic reports to the Council President and to CHD Director through the CHD
Secretariat.
D. FUNDING
The
potential sources of financial support of the Regional Laboratory Network are:
1.
Center for Health
Development
2.
Provincial, City
and Municipal Governments
3.
Health facility
Enhancement Program
4.
Funding from
Member Hospitals (Training Fees, Membership Fees, etc.)
5.
Government
Financial Institutions (BOI, PEZA, PCSO, PAGCOR)
6.
Local and
National Donor Organizations
7.
International
Development Agencies (USAID, JICA, AUSAID, CIDA, WHO)
The
Regional Laboratory Network, through its Council, shall conduct orientation
seminar and advocacy campaign on the Strategic Plan for the National Health
Laboratory Network to the key officials of the above mentioned potential
funding sources. A proposal for each funding agency/institution shall be
prepared and presented highlighting the benefits and advantages of establishing
and institutionalizing a Regional Laboratory Network to the entire health
laboratory system in their region. The planned activities of the Network and
the specific activities for possible funding support will be stated in
including the cost estimate.
VI. REPEALING
CLAUSE
All
orders whose provisions are inconsistent or contrary to this order are hereby
rescinded and modified accordingly.
VII.
EFFECTIVITY
This
order shall take effect immediately.
ENRIQUE T. ONA, MD
Secretary of Health
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