Since January 2019, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) all over the Philippines has started working only with accredited medical clinics when it comes to physical and medical examinations of applicants of student permits, driver’s licenses, conductor’s licenses, and motor vehicle registrations. The accreditation for medical clinics has long become a requirement before they can issue medical certificates, but it’s only valid for one year, hence the need for annual renewal of LTO accreditation for medical clinics.
The annual renewal for LTO accreditation for medical clinics ensures that the clinics maintain the same quality of service originally recognized by the LTO. This ensures that the service does not deteriorate and the safety of both drivers and passengers does not get compromised. After all, a lot of things can happen in one year so it is necessary for the LTO to confirm that the medical clinic is still properly equipped and that it still has the personnel and the technology to support it.
Renewing LTO Accreditation for Medical Clinics
An LTO-accredited clinic is a medical clinic that has gained an authorization to carry out medical examinations and provide medical certificates to applicants for student permit and driver’s and conductor’s licenses in the Philippines. This means that the renewal of such accreditation grants the medical clinics the authority to continue to legally operate and offer the same service for at least another year.
The renewal of medical clinic accreditation at the LTO ensures that the medical clinic will continue to be acknowledged by the agency as one of its legitimate affiliates. Just like the initial accreditation, it ensures that the clinics continue to have the proper IT infrastructure to meet the computerization requirements of the agency as well as the right size and technology to offer the required services, including the biometric examination, medical validation and screening, and necessary documentation uploading at the LTO-IT system for medical clinics, the Land Transport Management System (LTMS) Medical Clinics Portal.
What is it for?
The LTO service that allows for renewal of LTO accreditation for medical clinics is meant to give medical clinics the authority to offer its services and provide medical certificates to applicants for student permit and driver’s and conductor’s licenses. It was designed so that the LTO can check for quality and capacity to offer the designated service in a way that aligns with the LTO standards.
Eligibility for Renewal of LTO Accreditation for Medical Clinics
Since the accreditation procedure is open to all private and government facilities, the same are the intended target of the LTO accreditation renewal service:
- Previously accredited Private Medical Clinics or Health Facilities
- Must be owned by any Filipino citizen who is at least twenty-five (25) years old;
- Must be either a domestic partnership or association; or a corporation organized under Philippine laws with at least sixty percent (60%) Filipino ownership
- Must not be disqualified by any existing law or regulation
- Previously accredited Government Clinics or Health Facilities
Requirements for Renewal of LTO Medical Clinic Accreditation
Before initiating the request for renewal of LTO medical clinic accreditation, the following documentary requirements must be prepared first:
General Requirements For Private and Government Owned Clinics in LTO Philippines
- Duly accomplished application form under oath and signed by the Owner of the medical clinic or Head of Agency of Government health facility
- One (1) photocopy of the previous Certificate of Accreditation (CoA)
- Original copy of updated Organizational chart showing its personnel and their functions, if necessary
- Duly accomplished Health Facility Geographic Form (location map) and layout of the clinic, including dimensions (in case of transfer of location)
Additional Requirements of LTO Medical Clinic Accreditation
For private medical clinics and health facilities, here are some additional registration renewal documents:
For Private Medical Clinics
- One (1) Certified true copy of valid Mayor’s Business Permit / Proof of application for renewal of permit
- One (1) photocopy of latest Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) tax payment
- One (1) photocopy of valid Certificate of Registration with National Privacy Commission (NPC) or proof of application duly received by NPC
Procedures for LTO Accreditation of Medical Clinics
To secure recognition as an LTO-accredited medical clinic, the transacting person from either private clinic or health facilities or government hospitals must follow these accreditation procedures:
Step 1: Visit the LTO Regional Office closest to where the medical clinic is located.
Step 2: Proceed to the Assessment and Compliance Monitoring Team (ACMT) Counter (for those visiting LTO Regional Offices) and secure the application form for the renewal of LTO accreditation for medical clinics.
Step 3: Submit the required documents to the designated officer at the ACMT Secretariat in the LTO Regional Office for completeness and verification.
Note: If the application is submitted after the expiration of the accreditation, the CoA is temporarily suspended.
Step 4: Once the documents are evaluated and verified by the designated personnel from the ACMT Secretariat Regional Office, you will be issued a Payment Order Slip (POS).
Step 5: Upon issuance of your Payment Order Slip (POS), proceed to the cashier for the payment of renewal fee and other required fees and applicable penalties.
Note: Government health facilities and clinics are exempted from the payment of the application fees.
Step 6: Once paid, wait for the OR to be issued.
Step 7: Once your OR is released, proceed to the Releasing window at the ACMT Section and present your OR.
Step 8: Wait for the Certificate of Accreditation to be released.
Note: In the event of findings of deficiency or non-conformity, the clinic shall be suspended from operation until compliance to the findings.
Once the new Certificate of Accreditation is released, medical services and certificates may be continuously offered by the accredited clinics to drivers, conductors, aspiring conductors, and aspiring drivers who are looking to get a physical and medical assessment and acquire an LTO medical certificate.
Where to Register
To process an application for accreditation as an LTO-accredited medical clinic, you will need to visit the Assessment and Compliance Monitoring Team (ACMT) of the LTO Regional Office where the medical clinic was accredited.
Processing Time
The application for registration as an LTO-accredited doctor usually takes at least 5 days and 45 minutes, including the waiting time from the submission of complete requirements.
Potential Causes for Penalties, Suspension, and Sanctions
The renewal of LTO accreditation may incur an additional P1,000.00 penalty fee or suspension or closure if the clinic is found to have committed the following prohibited acts listed under Section 26 of LTO MC No. 2018-2157:
- Violation of condition/s of accreditation and/or registration
- Misrepresentation for purposes of securing an accreditation or registration or renewal thereof, such as giving a material false statement in the application or submitting falsified documents
- Obstructing or attempting to obstruct inspection or visits by the authorized representatives of LTO
- Engaging in activities outside the scope of the accreditation such as but not limited to selling of insurance policy, notarization of documents and photocopying services within the premises of the medical clinic
- Tampering of medical examination result by deliberately entering any false information about the applicant’s health or physical condition
- Direct or indirect solicitation of clients
- Any act similar or analogous to the foregoing
Fees and Penalties
To get accreditation as an LTO-accredited medical clinic, you must be prepared to pay for the LTO fees which includes the Renewal Fee amounting to P3,000.00, the Legal Research Fund which costs P10.00, and the Penalty Fee of P1,000.00 if the renewal for accreditation is applied after expiration of accreditation.
After due notice and hearing, the following punishments detailed in Section 28 and 29 of MC No. 2018-2157 may also be imposed towards medical clinics:
- Suspension not exceeding six (6) months; or
- Revocation of the accreditation of clinic or registration of physician; or
- Suspension not exceeding six (6) months or revocation of the accreditation of clinic or registration of physician, or both upon the discretion of the LTO Regional Director
- The LTO Regional Director may immediately impose preventive suspension for not more than sixty (60) days pending the outcome of the investigation.
- A medical clinic shall cease its operation and shall not accept any client for medical examination during the period of preventive suspension.
- The medical clinic shall be automatically denied access to the LTO IT System.
- A medical clinic which engages in the medical clinic business or makes it appear that it is authorized to perform medical examination on applicants without proper accreditation and/or registration shall be penalized with perpetual disqualification from accreditation and/or registration.
Important Reminders
For your reference, here are some important things you need to remember as you request for accreditation as an LTO-accredited medical clinic:
- If the renewal application is submitted after the expiration of the accreditation, the CoA is temporarily suspended.
- In the event of findings of deficiency or non-conformity, the clinic shall be suspended from operation until compliance to the findings.
- Accreditation of Medical Clinics is under multi-stage processing.
- Renewal of Certificate of Accreditation shall be filed to the LTO Regional Office having jurisdiction of the area where the medical clinic is located within ninety (90) days before its expiration.
- Processing time includes waiting time and starts upon the submission of complete requirements.
- Accredited medical clinics can only issue medical certificates to applicants of driver’s and conductor’s licenses after a complete physical and medical examination or they may face suspension or permanent closure.
- The renewal of accreditation for private medical clinics at the LTO is not free, but government hospitals, health facilities, and clinics are exempted from the payment of the application fees.
- As the LTO transitioned to a digitized agency, the transmittal of medical certificates has changed and the LTO now only accepts electronically transmitted ones via the Land Transport Management System (LTMS) portal.
- In case of committing any of the prohibited acts detailed under Sec. 26 of LTO MC No. 2018-2157, there are corresponding administrative penalties and sanctions as well as preventive suspension defined under Sections 28 and 29 of the same circular.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
To help make the LTO accreditation renewal procedures for medical clinics as painless as possible, here are some common questions and answers related to LTO renewal of accreditation for medical clinics:
1. Can I renew my medical clinic accreditation from any LTO office?
No. Renewal of LTO accreditation for medical clinics is only offered by the Assessment and Compliance Monitoring Team (ACMT) Counter of the LTO Regional Offices.
2. How much does it cost to renew the LTO accreditation for medical clinics?
Renewal of accreditation for medical clinics at the LTO requires the payment of Renewal Fee amounting to P3,000.00 and the Legal Research Fund which costs P10.00. In cases of violations, there will be an additional of P1,000.00 to cover the Penalty Fees.
3. Why do clinics and health facilities need to renew registration as an LTO-accredited medical clinic?
First, because the LTO gives utmost importance to all the processes involved in the issuance of licenses, the agency requires that the clinic meet certain standards in terms of size and infrastructure. Because these things are prone to wear and tear, it is necessary for the agency to check on a regular basis that the clinics still have what it takes to offer quality service, hence the need for annual renewal.
4. What would happen to clinics found to be issuing medical certificates for sale without a physical/medical exam if?
If an LTO-accredited medical clinic is found to be selling medical certificates or issuing medical certificates without subjecting the license applicants tona physical or medical exam, not only would they pay the penalty fee amount to P1,000.00, but they might also face other penalties ranging from suspension to revocation of accreditation or even a permanent ban.
5. Who do I reach out to for inquiries and concerns?
For more information or other concerns regarding the renewal of LTO accreditation for medical clinics, you may contact the LTO via the following:
Land Transportation Office
Office Address: LTO Compound, East Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City, 1100 Philippines
Tel. No.: 89229061 to 63
Email Address: ltomailbox@lto.gov.ph, clientcare@lto.gov.ph
Official website: https://lto.gov.ph/
Land Transport Management System (LTMS) portal: https://portal.lto.gov.ph/ords/f?p=PUBLIC_PORTAL:CONTACT_US:115716301949471
LTO Text Hotline Service: You may use LTO’s nationwide SMS service for drivers and vehicle owners by typing LTOHELP and sending it to 2600
LTO office: For information, you may check the LTO branch offices closest to you.
Summary
Getting authority granted to the private and government Medical Clinics relative to the issuance of Medical Certificates to Student-driver’s Permit and Driver’s/Conductor’s license applicants requires an application for accreditation from the LTO. However, such accreditation has a time limit of one year, hence the need for annual renewal through the accreditation renewal procedures. The process itself is relatively easier and cheaper and the processing period is also much shorter compared to when securing accreditation for the first time. So, if you ever need to renew your medical clinic’s LTO accreditation, then, you can use this guide here for your reference.