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INTRODUCTION
The Maritime Clinic for International Services is a joint Filipino
– Norwegian venture organized in 1996 for the sole purpose of establishing the country’s premier pre-employment
medical clinic in the country specializing in maritime medicine.
The clinic was conceptualized by Dr. Mohammed Saeme of the Christiania Clinic in Oslo,
Norway; a clinic specializing in tropical and general medicine and the occupational health of seafarers. With
approximately 40,000 Filipino seamen deployed on Norwegian vessels, Dr. Saeme had noted that a number of these
seamen had illnesses that should have been identified during the pre-employment medical examination. Thus, the
idea was born – to introduce the highest quality medical examination supported by accurate, reliable laboratory
studies.
After two years of careful planning, the site of historic Intramuros was chosen, and the
purchase of only the latest state-of-the-art equipment was made. Surpassing the standard medical examination being
used by the maritime industry, additional medical packages were designed to help screen for the more common, but
often missed, medical conditions.
These tests included a pulmonary function test to diagnose for asthma and other chronic
lung diseases; a computerized electrocardiogram (ECG) for all applicants, regardless of their age; and a complete
blood chemistry panel to determine liver and kidney function, and to identify risk factors in the development of
gout, kidney stones and heart disease.
MCIS was inaugurated on March 28, 1996, by no less then First Lady Amelita Ramos as the
guest-of-honor and other distinguished guests from the city and national government and members of the diplomatic
community in attendance.
From an initial two-company contract, MCIS presently conducts the pre-employment medical
examination for more than 38 foreign principals represented by 29 local manning agents.
SCOPE OF SERVICES
The MCIS medical staff of nineteen physicians, one dentist, one psychologist, six nurses,
four radiologic technologists, seven medical technologists, and one respiratory therapist work together with
an administrative staff (accounting, processing and human resources development) and a support staff
(maintenance, messenger, and transportation). MCIS also maintains its own roster of medical specialists in the
fields of radiology, pathology, surgery, urology, endocrinology, ophthalmology, otorhinolaryngology, gastroenterology,
dermatology, hematology, orthopedics and pulmonology all graduates of the country’s premier medical schools.
All medical examinations are performed in-house. A specialty board certified clinical and
anatomical pathologist heads the fully automated laboratory and drug laboratory that was awarded a certificate of
commendation by the Department of Health. The x-ray system is 500 MA in power (well-exceeding the minimum required
by the Department of Health). Other diagnostic units include: audiometric testing, visual testing, ECG, pulmonary
function testing and psychometric testing.
ACCREDITATION
On February 03, 1998, MCIS acquired the distinction of being one of the first medical
clinics in the Philippines to be awarded an ISO 9002 certification. Its current ISO certifying body is Bureau
Veritas Quality International (BVQI).
The clinic is accredited by the Philippine Department of Health, Philippine Overseas
Employment Agency, the Marina, the Norwegian Maritime Directorate, the Royal Danish Embassy,and the Embassy of
Sweden and the Dutch Embassy for the Netherlands Shipping Inspectorate. It also issues medical
certificates for Liberian and Panamanian flagships as well.
MCIS is one of the three local clinics originally chosen by the U.K. P&I Club to participate
in their PEME PILOT PROJECT. It was also the official clinic for the SKULD PEME PROJECT launched in December 1998 and
is presently an accredited clinic of North of England, Standard Club, Japan P&I PEME Projects and American P&I Club.
EXPANSION
On May 17, 2000 the clinic moved to its new site on the 9th and 10th floor of the Times
Plaza Building, U.N. Avenue corner Taft Avenue. In addition to the bigger clinic space, MCIS upgraded several of
its equipment (for immunology and vision testing) and added on a number of new in-house services such as the
treadmill stress test, an ultrasound machine and an eye clinic.
The clinic also launched its multi-disciplinary clinic with specialists in the field of
radiology, cardiology, urology, surgery, dermatology, ophthalmology, and endocrinology, gastroenterology, orthopedics
and otorhinolaryngology holding regular hours at the clinic.
Effective May 17, 2000 the name was changed to the Maritime Clinic for International Services, Inc.
to emphasize that the center is truly a specialty clinic for Maritime Health performing quality
pre-employment medical examinations, gathering and collating data for research studies and promoting pertinent
health issues through patient education and medical care classes (i.e. medical care on board for officers).
In March 2003 MCIS launched its online follow up that allows the clients to get the latest
information regarding the status of the seafarers, the company’s monthly census and causes of medical unfitness.
The patients are also able to check their own status online as well.
In November 2003 MCIS implemented its computer program that links the various medical and
testing units, effectively streamlining the processing of the final medical report and facilitating the collection
of data for census reports and research studies.
MCIS underwent another physical expansion with the opening of the MCIS Out-Patient
Department in April 2004. The extension houses the Follow-Up Unit and reception, MIS Unit, Accounting Unit and
specialists’ clinics. MCIS is now totally located on the 10th floor of the same building.
In July 20, 2005, MCIS was awarded as the Most Outstanding Clinic for Maritime Medicine nationwide 2004 by the
Philippine Marketing Excellence Awards Institute, Asian Institute of Marketing and Enterpreneurship and Sales and Marketing Magazine.
Currently, the clinic is busy scanning and converting all its medical files into a Data
Information System that will run the MCIS Data Bank and eliminate the need to maintain the medical charts on paper.
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