Contact Information:
- Trunk Line: 8523-8131 local 2553
- Email Address: ethicsreviewcommittee@manilamed.com.ph
- Address: Penthouse Floor Medical Center Manila Bldg. 850 United Nations Avenue, Paco, Manila
Year MMERC was Established: 2013
- PHREB Level 3 Ethics Review Committee Accreditation No.: L3-2018-016-02
- Effectivity Dale: July 25, 2018 Expiry Date: July 22, 2022 (re-accreditation on process)
ManilaMed ETHICS REVIEW COMMITTEE PROFILE AND HISTORY
The MMERC was created in November 4, 2013 by then ManilaMed Medical Director Dr. Telesforo E. Gana Jr. And appointed the following members Dr. Virginia R. De Jesus, an expert in the research field, as Chair of the Committee together with the following members: Dr. Leticia T. Ibañez-Guzman (Member Secretary), Dr. Leo D.P. Cubilan, Dr. Carmelita F. Domingo, Dr. Marla Esther D. Estrellado, Dr. Joel U. Macalino, Dr. Joel M. Santiaguel, Ms. Rosalita V. Tan (Lay, Non-Institutional Member) and Ms. Karon Charmaine C. Ollanas (Secretariat). The Board adopted the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) of the Department of Health. From December 2013 to May 2014, there were monthly full board meetings to review the content of the DOH SOP to suit ManilaMed’s policies. In May 2014, the final draft of MMERC SOP was finished and approved by Dr. Gana.
In 2014, the MMERC received its first accreditation with Philippine Health Research Ethics Board (PHREB) and recognized by the Forum for Ethical Review Committees in Asia and Western Pacific (FERCAP) in Tagaytay. Its accreditation as Level 3 Research facility was renewed in 2018 for another 4 years and has retain its FERCAP recognition.
In July 2017, an SOP workshop was conducted for the members of the MMERC
In November 2017, FERCAP renewed the recognition of MMERC for its compliance with the Declaration of Helsinki, International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) Guidelines, Good Clinical Practice (GCP)Standards, Council for International Organizations of Medical Sciences (CIOMS) Guidelines, World Health Organization (WHO) Standards and Operational Guidance for Ethics Review of Health-Related research and Surveying and Evaluating Ethical Review Practices, EC/IRB Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), Local Regulations, and Standards in Ethical Review.
In 2020, a pandemic hit the world especially the Philippines and the committee decided to revise the SOP and add procedures that would adapt to the situation where face to face meetings is discouraged. In September of 2020, the committee convened and finalized the addendum on online meetings and online submission of documents. Its SOP is continually being reviewed and revised if necessary to adapt to evolving situations.
MMERC MEMBERS
| NAME | POSITION | EXPERTISE |
| VIRGINIA R. DE JESUS, M.D. | CHAIRPERSON | OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY |
| MS. MARIA CLARISA PASCUAL | MEMBER SECRETARY, NON-INSTITUTIONAL | NURSE |
| LEO D.P. CUBILLAN, M.D. | MEMBER | OPHTHALMOLOGY |
| CARMELITA F. DOMINGO, M.D. | MEMBER | IM – PEDIATRICS |
| MARIA ESTHER D. ESTRELLADO, M.D. | MEMBER | IM – CARDIOLOGY |
| JOEL U. MACALINO | MEMBER | SURGERY, LAW |
| JOEL M. SANTIAGUEL, M.D. | MEMBER | IM – PULMONOLOGY |
| IVY CATHERINE REVERA-GO, M.D. | MEMBER | RHEUMATOLOGY |
| FR. GEORGEKUTTY KURIALA KOCHUCHAKKALACKAL | MEMBER NON-SCIENTIFIC, NON-INSTITUTIONAL | PRIEST |
| MS. ROSALITA V. TAN | MEMBER, NON-INSTITUTIONAL | RESEARCHER |
| MS. EULANE S. ORTIZ | STAFF SECRETARIAT |
NOTE: Cut-off of protocol submission is every 30th of the month or 2 weeks before the MMERC scheduled meeting. MMERC Review is scheduled every second Wednesday of the month except for holidays, unforseen events and eventualities, as well as for the month of December. Documents are to be submitted with a Review fee payable to: Medical Center Manila, Inc.