History

Our Story

• Origins

The Philippine Tuberculosis Society was founded on July 29, 1910 by a small group of Filipinos and Americans. They were led by the Society’s first president, Eleanor Franklin Egan, and Sixto delos Angeles. The Society operated two small clinics in Manila until they were able to expand activities and open the Santol Sanatorium in 1918.


In 1934, President Manuel Quezon signed Republic Act No. 4130, or the Sweepstakes Law, to address the public health threat of TB. With the founding of the Quezon Institute, the organization opened more clinics and TB pavilions across the country until the start of war.


During World War II, the Quezon Institute was occupied by Japanese forces and used as a military hospital, resulting in the loss of several important records, equipment, and supplies. The United States and the National TB Association helped the Society recover after the war.

• Expansion

The Philippine Tuberculosis Society was incorporated as the Philippine Tuberculosis Society, Inc. (PTSI) in 1960. In the decades that followed, PTSI partnered with several public and private organizations, including the Department of Health (DOH) and the World Health Organization (WHO), to expand its treatment, research, and training capabilities. It established its National Research and Training Center and Central Laboratory, now one of the leading TB laboratories in the country.


From 1987 onwards, the Quezon Institute adopted and pioneered the implementation of the Directly Observed Treatment Short Course (DOTS), a six-month treatment course for TB patients.

• COVID-19 Pandemic

PTSI became active in the national COVID-19 response after the pandemic crippled the country’s healthcare system.

In 2020, PTSI was designated as a COVID testing facility by the DOH. The Quezon Institute hosted its own Modular Hospital and Dormitory, a treatment and quarantine facility for moderate to severe cases.

• PTSI Now

In its 112th year, PTSI actively participates in the National Tuberculosis Program of the DOH. As a trusted partner of several public and private organizations, PTSI continues to receive and provide support for various TB initiatives across the Philippines.

• The Quezon Institute

The Quezon Institute (QI) serves underserved and indigent patients suffering from TB and its complications through its Outpatient Department. It offers community-based services in TB control such as case finding, case holding through DOTS strategy, health education, and training courses in the implementation of TB control.

Its Central Laboratory is accredited by the National TB Reference Laboratory (NTRL) for TB culture and drug susceptibility testing. It also assists in training TB laboratory workers and case finding activities. At present, it is the only NTRL-accredited laboratory in the private sector to conduct Direct Sputum Smear Microscopy training.

• A Cultural Heritage Site

The 16.5-hectare complex located in the heart of Quezon City is occupied by a handful of Art Deco-style edifices designed by National Artist Juan F. Nakpil. Built in the Commonwealth era, these impressive structures and its numerous fixtures and artifacts survived World War II and multiple earthquakes, thus remaining a cultural heritage site to this day.

The buildings were designed not just to withstand the elements but to keep staff safe and patients healthy. The whole complex has a network of open-air walkways which connects the buildings and promotes proper ventilation to prevent the spread of TB. Patients were once housed in and free to roam the complex’s open grounds to aid in their faster recovery.

Timeline

  • 1910

    The Philippine Islands Anti-Tuberculosis Society (PTS) is founded.

    The Society is established to manage the San Juan del Monte Sanatorium or San Juan TB Hospital.

  • 1911

    PTS admits its first TB patient.

    The first TB patient is admitted to the San Juan Sanatorium. Branches in Dumaguete, Iloilo, Cebu, and Zamboanga are opened.

    1911

  • 1918

    The Santol Sanatorium is
    opened in Balik-balik, Manila.

  • 1927

    PTS gains its first diagnostic X-ray unit.

    A free laboratory for sputum testing is opened to the public. The Central Clinic starts vaccinating newborn babies against TB with the Calmette or BCG vaccine. 1927

  • 1934

    The Society becomes a major beneficiary of the Sweepstakes Law (Republic Act No. 4130).


    1934

  • 1938

    The Quezon Institute is founded.

    The Santol Sanatorium is renamed “The Quezon Institute” in honor of the support of President Manuel L. Quezon. The Philippine Islands Anti-Tuberculosis Society is also renamed to “The Philippine Tuberculosis Society".

  • 1942 - 1945

    The Quezon Institute is occupied by Japanese forces and turned into a military hospital during World War II.

  • 1945

    Americans occupy the Quezon Institute.

    The 80th U.S. Army Base Hospital occupies the Quezon Institute for almost a year after liberation and helps repair some of the Institute’s damaged buildings and augment lacking supplies.

    1945

  • 1960

    The Society is incorporated as the
    Philippine Tuberculosis Society Inc. (PTSI)

  • 1977

    PTSI establishes the National Institute of Tuberculosis (NIT) together with the Department of Health (DOH) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

    1977

  • 1983

    NIT conducts the first National TB Prevalence Survey.

  • 1987

    PTSI adopts Directly Observed Therapy or DOTS treatment.

    TB DOTS for TB is a treatment approved by the WHO and available in all Southeast Asian countries. PTSI pioneers the treatment for the private sector.

    1987

  • 1994

    PTSI establishes the Philippine Coalition Against Tuberculosis (PhilCAT) as one of its founding members.

  • 1996

    PTSI’s National Research and Training Center and Central Laboratory are established.

  • 1998

    The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office donates important equipment which significantly improves the Central Laboratory’s capabilities.

  • 2003

    Medicos del Mundo of Spain sponsors the renovation of the Central Laboratory, establishing it as one of the leading TB laboratories in the country. 2003

  • 2004

    PTSI conducts the Philippine Training Course in TB Program Management in partnership with the DOH, PhilCAT, and Philippine Tuberculosis Initiatives by Private Sectors.

  • 2007

    PTSI develops a program against
    multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB).

    The program is formed together with the DOH, the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, and the Tropical Disease Foundation. PTSI’s Tayuman branch is made into the first MTR-TB center.

    The Central Laboratory starts its quarterly Direct Sputum Smear Microscopy Training in coordination with the National Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory (NTRL), becoming the only NTRL-accredited lab in the private sector to conduct this training.

  • 2008

    PTSI manages the TB in Prisons Program.

    The program is signed under a Memorandum of Agreement with the DOH, Department of Justice, and Department of Interior and Local Government, in partnership with the International Committee of the Red Cross and the WHO.

  • 2009

    PTSI is awarded the U.S. Agency for International Development or USAID-funded project, “Private Sector Participation in TB Control.” It completes the project in 18 months.

  • 2011

    PTSI receives its own Gene Xpert machine.

    The machine is used for diagnosing all re-treatment cases, children, and people with HIV.

  • 2014

     

    PTSI joins the USAID-funded IMPACT Project as Technical Assistant in 26 provinces and cities until 2017.

  • 2019

     

    PTSI organizes and hosts the 7th Union Asia Pacific Regional Conference with the PhilCAT, DOH, and WHO, among other organizations.

  • 2020

    PTSI opens its doors to COVID-19 patients.

    The Quezon Institute opens a COVID-19 facility in partnership with Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center, the DOH, and the Department of Public Works and Highways.

    2020

  • 1910

    The Philippine Islands Anti-Tuberculosis Society (PTS) is founded.

    The Society is established to manage the San Juan del Monte Sanatorium or San Juan TB Hospital.

  • 1911

    1911 PTS admits its first
    TB patient.

    The first TB patient is admitted to the San Juan Sanatorium. Branches in Dumaguete, Iloilo, Cebu, and Zamboanga are opened.

  • 1918

    The Santol Sanatorium is opened in Balik-balik, Manila.

  • 1927

    1927PTS gains its first diagnostic X-ray unit.

    A free laboratory for sputum testing is opened to the public. The Central Clinic starts vaccinating newborn babies against TB with the Calmette or BCG vaccine.

  • 1934

    1934 The Society becomes a major beneficiary of the Sweepstakes Law (Republic Act No. 4130).

  • 1938

    The Quezon Institute is founded.

    The Santol Sanatorium is renamed “The Quezon Institute” in honor of the support of President Manuel L. Quezon. The Philippine Islands Anti-Tuberculosis Society is also renamed to “The Philippine Tuberculosis Society.

  • 1942 - 1945

    The Quezon Institute is occupied by Japanese forces and turned into a military hospital during World War II.

  • 1945

    1945Americans occupy the Quezon Institute.

    The 80th U.S. Army Base Hospital occupies the Quezon Institute for almost a year after liberation and helps repair some of the Institute’s damaged buildings and augment lacking supplies.

  • 1960

    The Society is incorporated as the Philippine Tuberculosis Society Inc. (PTSI)

  • 1977

    1977

    PTSI establishes the National Institute of Tuberculosis (NIT) together with the Department of Health (DOH) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

  • 1983

    NIT conducts the first National TB Prevalence Survey.

  • 1987


    1987 PTSI adopts Directly Observed Therapy or DOTS treatment.

    Directly Observed Therapy or DOTS for TB is a treatment approved by the WHO and available in all Southeast Asian countries. PTSI pioneers the treatment for the private sector.

  • 1994

    PTSI establishes the Philippine Coalition Against Tuberculosis (PhilCAT) as one of its founding members.

  • 1996

    PTSI’s National Research and Training Center and Central Laboratory are established.

  • 1998

    The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office donates important equipment which significantly improves the Central Laboratory’s capabilities.

  • 2003

    2003 Medicos del Mundo of Spain sponsors the renovation of the Central Laboratory, establishing it as one of the leading TB laboratories in the country.

  • 2004

    PTSI conducts the Philippine Training Course in TB Program Management in partnership with the DOH, PhilCAT, and Philippine Tuberculosis Initiatives by Private Sectors.

  • 2007

    PTSI develops a program against multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB).

    The program is formed together with the DOH, the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, and the Tropical Disease Foundation. PTSI’s Tayuman branch is made into the first MTR-TB center. The Central Laboratory starts its quarterly Direct Sputum Smear Microscopy Training in coordination with the National Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory (NTRL), becoming the only NTRL-accredited lab in the private sector to conduct this training.

  • 2008

    PTSI manages the TB in Prisons Program.

    The program is signed under a Memorandum of Agreement with the DOH, Department of Justice, Department of Interior and Local Government, in partnership with the International Committee of the Red Cross and the WHO.

  • 2009

    PTSI is awarded the U.S. Agency for International Development or USAID-funded project, “Private Sector Participation in TB Control.” It completes the project in 18 months.

  • 2011

    PTSI receives its own Gene Xpert machine.

    The machine is used for diagnosing all re-treatment cases, children, and people with HIV.

  • 2014

    PTSI joins the USAID-funded IMPACT Project as Technical Assistant in 26 provinces and cities, until 2017.

  • 2019

    PTSI organizes and hosts the 7th Union Asia Pacific Regional Conference (IUATLD) with the PhilCAT, DOH, and WHO, among other organizations.

  • 2020


    2020 PTSI opens its doors to COVID-19 patients. The Quezon Institute opens a COVID-19 facility in partnership with Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center, the DOH, and the Department of Public Works and Highways.
Donate now

Main Office

PTSI National Office

Quezon Institute Compound,
E. Rodriguez Sr. Avenue (España Ext.), Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines

(02) 8356 5857

ptsi@philtbsociety.org

Branches

Albay

Cagayan

Davao

Eastern Visayas

Iloilo

Negros Oriental

Roxas