The Chinese General Hospital and Medical Center (CGHMC), through its Institute of Pathology, successfully held the 3rd Postgraduate Course on Advancing Safe Transfusion Practices and HLA Typing on October 9–10, 2026. The two-day event brought together pathologists, laboratory professionals, medical technologists, clinicians, and transfusion medicine experts to share knowledge and discuss advances in transfusion safety and transplantation diagnostics.
The course opened with inspirational remarks from Mr. Kelly Sia, President and CEO of CGHMC, welcome remarks from Dr. Samuel Ang, Medical Director, and opening remarks from Dr. Evelina N. Lagamayo, Director of the Institute of Pathology.
In his message, Mr. Sia emphasized the importance of continuous learning, professional collaboration, and scientific advancement in improving patient outcomes. He reminded participants that blood transfusion is a life-saving intervention that requires careful attention to safety and the highest standards of medical practice.
Dr. Ang also recognized the contributions of Dr. Edwin L. Muñoz and Dr. Lagamayo in advancing blood transfusion technology in the Philippines, highlighting the importance of blood banking in patient care.
In her opening address, Dr. Lagamayo underscored the need for safe transfusion practices, effective hemovigilance, and proper management of transfusion-related complications. She also discussed advances in Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) typing and testing, emphasizing their role in transplantation and personalized patient care. She encouraged participants to apply what they learned to improve clinical and laboratory practices in their respective institutions.
The first day focused on current practices and challenges in transfusion medicine and immunohematology. Dr. Edwin L. Muñoz, Chief of the Blood Bank Section and Head of Anatomic Pathology, introduced the scientific program and highlighted the importance of keeping pace with developments in laboratory medicine.
The sessions covered patient blood management and massive transfusion, blood group discrepancies, rare blood types, complex serological cases, drug interference in compatibility testing, hemovigilance, and quality systems in blood banking. Dr. Amnial Laziza also discussed Weak D testing and its importance in transfusion safety.
In the afternoon, Dr. Ram Mohan Jaiswal presented the principles and applications of antibody identification, followed by Dr. Muñoz’s discussion of Philippine immunohematology experiences and challenging cases. An interactive case analysis allowed participants to apply their knowledge to practical clinical scenarios.
The second day focused on HLA typing, antibody testing, crossmatching, and transplant monitoring.
Dr. Ramona Chopra discussed the fundamentals of the HLA system, including typing techniques, antibody screening, and crossmatching. Dr. Ram Mohan Jaiswal followed with a session on crossmatching techniques and donor-recipient compatibility.
The program also covered antibody screening and identification, panel reactive antibody (PRA) testing, and single antigen bead (SAB) testing. During the session titled Understanding the Enigma, Dr. Jaiswal facilitated case discussions that challenged participants to analyze complex clinical scenarios.
Dr. Chopra and Dr. Jaiswal concluded the scientific sessions with a discussion on pre- and post-transplant monitoring algorithms, highlighting the role of laboratory testing in supporting transplant outcomes and patient care.
Recognizing Collaboration and Commitment to Patient Safety
The course concluded with a closing ceremony recognizing the sponsors and partners who supported the educational event. Certificates of appreciation were presented by Dr. Edwin L. Muñoz, Dr. Francis Tria, and Dr. Evelina N. Lagamayo.
In his closing remarks, Dr. Muñoz thanked the speakers, participants, organizers, and sponsors for their contributions to the success of the course.
Through this two-day program, CGHMC reaffirmed its commitment to continuing medical education, scientific advancement, and patient safety. By bringing healthcare professionals together to exchange knowledge and best practices, the hospital continues to support the development of transfusion and transplant medicine in the Philippines.
True to its mission of “Exceptional Care Within Reach,” CGHMC remains committed to education, collaboration, and excellence in healthcare.
