Milestones |History of the Institute | Historical Milestone
The National Kidney and Transplant Institute is a tertiary medical specialty center formerly known as the National Kidney Foundation of the Philippines (NKFP) created on January 16, 1981 by virtue of Presidential Decree 1832 signed by then President Ferdinand E. Marcos. It was created with a three-fold mission of Service, Training and Research primarily for the benefit of the Filipino people afflicted with kidney and allied diseases and in pursuance of the policy of the State to secure the well-being of the people by providing them with the specialized health and medical services.
The Institute is situated in a 58,899 square meter parcel of land located along East Avenue, Quezon City, near the Quezon City Hall and is accessible to all types of land transportation. NKTI is a three-story edifice which can accommodate 250 patient beds. Presently, the Institute has an actual bed capacity of 382 patient beds.
There are other government hospitals in the neighborhood namely the Lung Center of the Philippines, East Avenue Medical Center, the Philippine Heart Center, the Philippine Children Medical Center and East Avenue Medical Center. Each hospital has its own field of specialization and NKTI is presently the only government hospital specialized in renal diseases and organ transplantation. It is the center for referral of kidney patients from various regional hospitals nationwide and is recognized as the lead agency in voluntary blood services.
The National Kidney and Transplant Institute’s forerunner was the National Kidney Foundation of the Philippines (NKFP) which was formally crated in January 16, 1981 by virtue of Section I of Presidential Decree 1832. It became operational at the Wing A3 and A4 of the Lung Center of the Philippines.
The cornerstone of the NKFP building in Quezon City was laid by NKFP Chairman, then First Lady Madame Imelda Romualdez Marcos, assisted by the members of the Board of Trustees and world renowned Transplant Surgeons, Anesthesiologists, Nephrologists and Immunologists on February 23, 1983.
On this same date, the first kidney transplant at NKFP was performed by Dr. G. Baird Helfirch of Georgetown University in Washington D.C., USA, Dr. Edgar Milford of Harvard’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston and Dr. Barry D. Kahan of the University of Texas Medical School and Organ Transplantation Center.
NKFP was constructed in a unique hospital configuration geared for transplant operations. The Operating room air conditioning system has laminar flow with a high efficiency particulate (HEPA) filter. The laboratory equipment was state-of-the-art with capabilities seen only in the most advanced clinical laboratories in the world.
Soon, under the directorship of Dr. Claver P. Ramos, NKFP embarked on an ambitious kidney transplant project which was made available to all patients from all over the country regardless of social status.
Cyclosporine A, a revolutionary anti-rejection drug was immediately made available through Sandoz Philippines (now Novartis Healthcare). This drug was not yet in the U.S. market at that time and the Philippines was among the first countries in the world to approve its use for transplantation. The hospital churned out transplant research works one after the other that saw publications in the most prestigious transplant journals and presentations in the world transplant congresses.
The first living related kidney transplant was performed at the NKFP operating room on August 5, 1983.
The need for cadaver organs for transplantation was immediately recognized and a directive to start an organ retrieval program was issued. Through the initiatives of then NKFP Director Dr. Claver P. Ramos, Assistant Director Dr. Potenciano Baccay and Transplant Surgeon Dr. Enrique T. Ona, cadaver organ harvest and cadaver kidney transplant had a headstart on December 5 & 6, 1983 respectively. Dr. Antonio R. Paraiso, a Nephrologist was given the task of heading the cadaver program called Cadaver Organ Retrieval Effort (CORE) which was renamed as Human Organ Preservation Effort (HOPE) in 1990. These Transplant Coordinators braved weather and circumstance to promote the program and achieve its goal of providing transplantable organs to end-stage renal disease patients who do not have living related donors.
A change in the leadership of government meant a change in the management of the Institute. The Cory Aquino administration and part of Fidel Ramos term as President saw Dr. Filoteo A. Alano as its Director until he resigned in 1998.
The Institute has since then underwent a series of changes with the energized leadership of Executive Director, Dr. Enrique T. Ona, one of the pioneers of transplantation in the Philippines
The bed-capacity of the hospital before Units 5, 6 and 7 were affected by the May 1998 Lung Center burning was 231. An LCP-NKTI connecting passage turned office that H.O.P.E. occupied was totally razed down during the fire. Unit 7, which had the bulk of the charity beds, and part of the Radiology Department were also heavily damaged.
New units with 73 private rooms at the third floor and Out-Patient Services were built to accommodate the ever increasing number of Filipinos suffering from kidney diseases and other ailments. Units at the second floor are being spruced up in conformity with the total face lift that the Institute is undergoing. The NKTI has expanded into a 247 bed-capacity hospital that provides the best facilities for quality tertiary medical services.
The end-section of the 39-bed ward which the PAGCOR constructed for service patients (Unit 2-D) was renovated to give room to the 5-bed Intermediate Care Unit (IMCU).
The Center for Special Services, composed of the Urology Unit, Endoscopy Unit, Chemotherapy/Transfusion/Pain Management Unit and Peritoneal Dialysis Ambulatory Unit has replaced what used to be Unit 7 at the second floor of the annex building.
The new Emergency room complex was specially redesigned to suit its purpose with its 7 bed observation and 9 bed treatment rooms. The Pharmacy and Housekeeping sections were also constructed to pave way for better and faster services.
Annex II, a three-storey building which is separate from the main building, was also constructed. New Doctor’s clinics were built to accommodate more out-patient consultations. The Institute has also expanded and modernized its Dialysis Center. With 31 state-of-the-art hemodialysis machines, the center is capable of doing 2,400 dialysis procedures per month. It is also capable of doing any type of dialysis treatment, custom-fit to the varied clinical conditions that may be encountered in clinical practice.
NKTI is a leader in providing continuing education for young doctors through Internship/Residency/Fellowship programs in the different fields of Medicine. This program is in partnership with the Philippine Heart Center (PHC), Lung Center of the Philippines (LCP), and East Avenue Medical Center (EAMC).
To continually develop and upgrade the level of skills of the nurses and other paramedical staff, the Institute developed and established the Institute of Advanced Nursing and Allied Health Professions. It is envisioned to provide and equip our nursing and paramedical staff the necessary training, exposure and skills based on globally accepted standards.
As it was in the earlier days of the NKFP, today, the National Kidney and Transplant Institute is still an institution that every Filipino must be proud of. As the first government hospital to be ISO-9001:2000 certified, it provides top quality care, at par with any treatment found anywhere in the world. Its equipment, manpower and services are of the highest standard. It boasts of the most modern diagnostic techniques in kidney and other related diseases, all modes of dialysis, and surgical procedures, most notably, organ transplantation.
These days, kidney transplantation is a regular activity of the hospital. NKTI holds the record of the most number of kidney transplants performed in the country since 1983. Other organ transplants have also been done at the Institute, namely, liver, pancreas, bone marrow and islet cell. Double transplants like liver and kidney, pancreas and kidney are transplant operations which were performed at NKTI long before any other transplant centers in Asia would do it.
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February 22, 2013 |
Blessing of NEW OPD Waiting Area and Main NKTI Signage |
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February 18, 2013 |
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January 23, 2013 |
Launching of the Dystonia and Muscle Spasm Center EEG/EMG |
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October 5, 2012 |
Launching of ICC Handbook |
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February 29, 2012 |
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September 4, 2011 |
TUV Performs Recertification Audit at NKTI |
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July 21 and 26, 2011 |
TUV Performs Recertification Audit at NKTI |
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July 20, 2011 |
Blessing of the New Diagnostic Center |
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June 25, 2011 |
3rd Philhealth Sabado |
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June 14, 2011 |
Video conference with Massachusetts General Hospital as hosted by Adult Nephrology Department |
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February 28, 2011 |
Medical Social Service Division 28th Founding Anniversary |
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February 23, 2011 |
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October 11-12, 2010 |
Department of Pediatric Nephrology 2nd Post Graduate Course “ABCD’s of kids’ CKD” |
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October 7-9, 2010 |
17th Post Graduate Course in Hemodialysis “Customizing Dialysis in Acute Kidney Injury” |
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October 6, 2010 |
Launching of the “Handbook for Kidney Transplant Recipient and Kidney Donor” |
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October 2, 2010 |
NKTI Participated in “PhilHealth Sabado; Magseguro, Magparehistro” Nationwide Registration |
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September 21, 2010 |
3rd Peace Pole Planting Anniversary. |
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June 26, 2010 |
NKTI-PUA 2nd Rafael Buenaventura Memorial Lecture |
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June 2010 |
NKTI Executive Director, Dr. Enrique T. Ona appointed as Secretary of Health. |
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May 1, 2010 |
The NKTI was recently awarded the title of "Center of Excellence" by the PhilHealth. |
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March 24, 2010 |
NKTI Hosted the 1st Outside Washington DC International Conference on Public - Private Sector Partnership Study Visit |
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March 10, 2010 |
Blessing and Inauguration of Center for Urology and Men’s Health. |
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December 14, 2009 |
NKTI Medical Lab received ISO 15189:2007 Accreditation. |
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September 30, 2009 |
2nd NKTI-Stanford Teleconference “ Pediatric Urology”. |
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September 8, 2009 |
NKTI Diagnostic Center Topping-Off Ceremony. |
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June 17 - 18, 2009 |
NKTI–PUA First Rafael Buenaventura Memorial Lecture in Urology. |
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May 27, 2009 |
The 1st NKTI – Stanford Teleconference “ Urologic Oncology” NKTI received ISO Certification 9001:2008 version |
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March 27, 2009 |
Launching of the First NKTI Total Laboratory Automation (TLA). |
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December 5, 2008 |
Cornerstone Laying Ceremony of NKTI Diagnostic Center 1st NKTI Director’s Annual Lecture |
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December 3, 2008 |
Blessing and Inauguration of Dr. Filoteo A. Alano Auditorium. |
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November 26, 2008 |
NKTI received Center of Wellness Award given by the Philippine Hospital Association. |
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November 20, 2008 |
NKTI received ISO 9001:2000 Re-certification. |
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June 16, 2008 |
Formal opening of Employees Lounge. |
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May 21, 2008 |
Blessing and Inauguration of Employees Lounge. |
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February 22, 2008 |
Cornerstone Laying-Anniversary of the Institute (Celebrating 25th Year). |
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January 25, 2008 |
Unveiling of the DNA Fusion Metal Sculpture. |
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December 6, 2007 |
Soft Blessing of the newly renovated PIO, Admitting, Billing and Atrium. |
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September 21, 2007 |
Peace Pole Planting. |
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June 4, 2007 |
Blessing of the Libra 120 Energy Filtering Transmission Electron Microscope (F10). |
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March 10, 2007 |
First Post Graduate Course on Vascular Access and Management of Access Complications. |
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March 8, 2007 |
First World Kidney Day Celebration of NKTI. |
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February 19, 2007 |
Blessing of Ward 2C. |
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October 4, 2006 |
Blessing of the New Laboratory Reception Hall and Ward 3D. |
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June 1, 2006 |
Blessing of Chronic Kidney Disease Clinic. |
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March, 2006 |
Blessing of Molecular and Cellular Therapeutics. |
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February 23, 2006 |
Blessing of the New Cafeteria and Launching of the NKTI Coffee Table Book. |
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June 22, 2005 |
Blessing and Opening of Vascular Laboratory, Wound and Ostomy Care Clinic. |
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June 18, 2005 |
Blessing and Opening of the Prostate Health Clinic (Out-Patient Services). |
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June 7, 2005 |
Establishment of the Kidney Donor Care Unit. |
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June 1, 2005 |
Launching of the new NKTI website. |
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April 29, 2005 |
First Post-graduate course on Molecular Diagnostics in Oncology. |
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February 23, 2005 |
Blessing and Opening of Ward 2 E (Annex 1 Building) and Launching of the Philippine Transplant Data Base 22nd year Anniversary |
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November 17, 2004 |
Renal Disease Control Program (REDCOP) received the 13 th Gawad Oscar M. Florendo Award for Outstanding Public Information Tool, Print Category at AFPCOC, Tejeros Hall Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City. |
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September 10, 2004 |
NKTI Bags 3 rd Prize Winner in the 2004 Search for the Most Outstanding Quality Improvement Study Contest conducted by the Philippine Society for Quality in Health Care (PSQua). |
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August 11, 2004 |
Blessing of the new Open Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (FISH) and Nutrition and Dietetics Division (NDD). |
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June 28, 2004 |
Blessing of new Ecumenical Chapel, Doctors’ Lounge, Urology and Surgery Office, Extra Corporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL), Medical Conference Room and Medical Library. |
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June 4, 2004 |
Launching of NKTI Documentary Film, Renal Cook Book and Training Module on the Prevention of Kidney Disease. |
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February 25, 2004 |
First live operative demonstration of full laparoscopic donor nephrectomy in the country done by Dr. Howard Man Ho Lau, Consultant Urologist and Transplant Surgeon, West Mead Hospital, Sydney Australia. |
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February 24, 2004 |
First live operative demonstration of hand-assisted laparoscopic donor nephrectomy in NKTI done by Dr. Arturo G. Martinez, Director of Renal Transplant Program, Kaiser Permanente Medical Group, San Francisco California and Dr. Peter N. Bretan, Jr., Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Urology, University of California, San Francisco. |
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February 23-26, 2004 |
First Post-graduate Course and Workshop on Basic Urologic Laparoscopy in the country. |
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November 2003 - February 2004 |
NKTI Employees undergone Seminar/Workshop on Personal and Organizational Values alignment. |
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August 18, 2003 |
Opening of the New Expanded Dialysis Center. |
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June 19, 2003 |
First Director’s Cup Golf Tournament held in Wack Wack Golf and Country Club. |
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June 25, 2003 |
20th Year Anniversary Celebration Blessing of the newly renovated Auditorium II, New Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, New Chapel, and New Expanded Dialysis Center |
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May 7, 2003 |
Soft Opening/Blessing of Doctors’ Clinics, Medical Records (Annex II Building), Housekeeping and Pharmacy. |
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December 18, 2002 |
Blessing of Ablatherm & Mammography machine. |
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December 12, 2002 |
Blessing of Miggy’s Corner (Children’s Playground) located in front of Annex Building II. Sponsored by Canadian-based life insurance company Manulife Philippines and the brainchild of Ms. Cathy Babao-Guballa, founder of Migi’s Corner Foundation. |
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October 4, 2002 |
Received Five Star Award for quality X-Ray service given by the Department of Health through its Bureau of Health Devices and Technology. Awarding ceremony was held at San Lazaro Hospital, Amphi Theater. |
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August 5, 2002 |
Blessing/Opening of the newly renovated Emergency Room Department, Medical Social Service, Unit 2A and Interns/Nurses Dormitory. |
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July 29, 2002 |
Blood Bank received the Sandugo Masigasig, Sandugo Mabuhay, and Sandugo Mapag-impok awards during the DOH-National Voluntary Blood Services program held at Heritage Hotel. Ms. Nelia Avila, Blood Bank Coordinator was also given an award for her outstanding work. |
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June 5, 2002 |
NKTI formally received the ISO 9001:2000 certificate from TUV Product Service. |
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March 18, 2002 |
Blessing and opening of the new Peritoneal Dialysis Ambulatory Care Unit, Center for Special Services, Annex Bldg. |
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February 23, 2002 |
NKTI celebrates the 1 st Transplant Day Anniversary and 2000 th kidney transplant count since 1983. |
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February 22, 2002 |
Blessing of the new Millenium VG Gamma Camera of the Nuclear Medicine Section. |
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December 19, 2001 |
Blessing of Residents’ Quarters, Intermediate Care Unit, New Elevator, etc. |
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December 12, 2001 |
NKTI received the GAWAD OSCAR M. FLORENDO award for Outstanding Public Information Program for its entry “Renal Disease Control Program – Organ Donation Information Campaign. |
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December 5 -7, 2001 |
First National Convention on Disaster Management by the Health Sector “Strengthened Health Sector in Emergencies and Disasters” was held at NKTI. |
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November 28, 2001 |
Received the“Star Awards” (4 stars) / certificate of recognition for very satisfactory performance in the implementation of Quality Assurance-Quality Control program in the Radiology Department given at the Manila Midtown Hotel by DOH Radiation Health Services. |
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November 16 - 17,2001 |
First Post-graduate Course in Transplantation “The Alphabet of Transplantation”. |
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August 10, 2001 |
NKTI Transplant Team performed the first Kidney Transplant at Davao Medical Center in Davao City. |
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August 9, 2001 |
Blessing of the newly renovated Batong-Bulilit Learning & Recreation Center funded-sponsored by the Manila Jaycees. |
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July 27, 2001 |
Blood Bank received the Mabuhay award plaque and certificates of Masigasig and Mapag-impok awards during the DOH National Voluntary Blood Services Program Awarding Ceremony held at the World trade Center, Roxas Blvd. |
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June 29, 2001 |
The First Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplant in the country. |
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June 28, 2001 |
Soft launching of Renal Cookbook “Secrets Revealed for Healthy Cooking” by Nutrition and Dietetics Division. |
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June 4, 2001 |
Official launching of ISO 9001:2000 Certification Project. |
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April 23, 2001 |
The new Out-Patient Services Building and the additional 73-bed Patient Areas at the 3 rd floor were formally inaugurated by her Excellency President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. |
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March 28, 2001 |
Official launching of the Total Management Program. |
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March 16, 2001 |
NKTI Transplant Team performed the 2 nd Kidney Transplant at Bicol Medical Center in Naga City. |
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December 7, 2000 |
Inauguration of the newly established NKTI Center for Special Services (Urology Unit, Endoscopy Unit, Chemotherapy/Transfusion and Pain Management Unit). |
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June 9, 2000 |
NKTI Transplant Team performed the first kidney transplant at Bicol Medical Center in Naga City. |
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June 6, 2000 |
Official launch of the NKTI Website. |
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February 8, 2000 |
Unveiling of the Institute’s Vision/Mission Statement. |
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September 30,1999 |
The Division of Pediatrics of NKTI was chosen 1999 Civil Service Commission PAGASA Awardee for successfully organizing the Batong-Bulilit School. |
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July 1999 |
The DOH-NVBSP gave two recognition awards to NKTI:
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June 22,1999 |
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June 22,1998 |
NKTI earned “2 Stars” in the “Star Awards for Quality Assurance in Hospital” sponsored by the Department of Health. |
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May 1,1998 |
Ms. Nelia C. Avilla, Nurse Coordinator, received the 1997-1998 Presidential Scholarship Award during the 20 th Annual Convention of the Association of Donor Recruitment Professionals at Dallas, Texas, USA. |
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December 4-7, 1997 |
The 5 th Congress of the Asian Society of Transplantation was held in Manila with NKTI as a major participant and host. |
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November 24 - 26, 1996 |
NKTI was a major participant in the medical coverage of the delegates 1996 to the APEC Summit, Dr. Filoteo A. Alano , Executive Director of NKTI, was assigned to be the personal physician for President Bill Clinton of the United States of America. |
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April 12, 1996 |
Together with a team of surgeons from Taiwan, the first pediatric living-related liver transplant was performed. |
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December 5, 1995 |
Awarded Outstanding Hospital in Sanitation and Waste Management, also Best Food Sanitatio. |
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May 25, 1995 |
By virtue of Republic Act No. 8020, the National Kidney Institute (NKI) was renamed to be the National Kidney and Transplant Institute and designated as the lead center for organ transplantation. |
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May 16, 1995 |
Establishment of NKI as “Healthy Hospital” (DOH Hospitals as Centers for Wellness Program). |
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December 14,1994 |
Establishment of NKI as the DOH Hospital Network Depot for the STOP D.E.A.T.H. Program. |
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October 24,1994 |
Achieved the 1000 th kidney transplant at NKI. |
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February 18, 1994 |
Designated implementing agency of the DOH National Voluntary Blood Donation program for year 1994. |
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July 29, 1993 |
Memorandum of Agreement signed by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes, DOH, and NKI to set-up regional dialysis centers nationwide. |
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May 31, 1993 |
Pres. Fidel V. Ramos signed the following Presidential Decrees: 184: Declaring the month of June of every year as National Kidney Month 185: Declaring the last week of June of every year as Organ and Blood Donation Awareness Week |
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1992 - 1993 |
First Hospital to achieve 100% voluntary blood donation. |
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June 22, 1992 |
Visit of President-Elect Fidel V. Ramos. |
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January 7, 1992 |
Republic Act 7170, otherwise known as the “Organ Donation Act of 1991” was signed into law by Pres. Corazon C. Aquino. |
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September 18, 1990 |
The first Combined Kidney & Liver transplant in Asia was performed at NKI. |
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August 6, 1990 |
First Bone-Marrow transplant in the Philippines was performed at NK. |
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August 6, 1988 |
The first Liver Transplant in the Philippines was performed at the NK. |
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March 3, 1988 |
The first double transplant (kidney & pancreas) in Asia was performed at NKI. |
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November 12, 1986 |
Through Memorandum Order No. 48, the name of the institution was changed from the National Kidney Foundation of the Philippines (NKFP) to the National Kidney Institute. |
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July 11, 1984 |
Start of the construction of the Main Building which was completed in 1985, increasing the bed capacity of the hospital to 127 beds. |
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August 5, 1983 |
The first living-related donor transplant was performed at the NKFP operating room. |
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July 31, 1983 |
The construction of the Annex Building of the NKFP was completed. |
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April 26, 1983 |
Start of the NKFP Annex building construction. |
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February 23, 1983 |
Mrs. Imelda Romualdez Marcos, assisted by the members of the Board of trustees and world renowned transplant surgeons and nephrologists, laid down the cornerstones of the NKFP The First Living Related Donor transplant was performed at the Lung Center operating room |
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January 6, 1983 |
The NKFP became operational at wings A3 and A4 of the Lung Center of the Philippines |
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January 16, 1981 |
Section 1 Presidential Decree 1832 formally creates the National Kidney Foundation of the Philippines (NKFP) |
