The LAGUNA PROVINCIAL CHEST CENTER (LPCC) was built in 1950 during the time of the late Elpidio Quirino, the last president of the Commonwealth of the Philippines. Its creation and development were principally intended as a TB demo area for the people of Laguna specially at the grassroots level under the collaborative efforts of UNICEF, Philippine Charity Sweepstake Office (PCSO) and the local gov
ernments. Since then, the Laguna Provincial Chest Center has been noted for the chest X-ray examinations using the 70 millimeter roll films mostly for health clearance purposes along with the other laboratory procedures such as BCG vaccinations, urinalysis, complete blood count (CBC) and early in the 1970’s came the sputum examinations. It was in the year 1993 and onwards, LPCC has started using 14”x17” X-ray films as a very effective TB diagnostic tool followed by the JICA’s introduction of direct sputum microscopy where LPCC medical technologists have been trained as professional microscopists and validators, thus, making LPCC as a Quality Assurance for Sputum Microscopy under NTP/DOTS to ensure early detection and treatment of TB cases hence, improving and strengthening the NTP implementation in the Laguna Province. In the early part of 2007, two (2) public health concerns have been devolved to LCC by DOH-REP namely the STI//HIV and Leprosy Prevention and Control Programs enhancing more of the technical capabilities of LPCC to become the Center of Major Infectious Diseases in the Province of Laguna. After more than five (5) decades of starting merely as a humble TB demonstration area since 1951 specially serving the marginalized and less fortunate Lagunenses, the LAGUNA PROVINCIAL CHEST CENTER has withstood the test of time gearing towards a bigger, better, and a stronger provincial health care provider with its facility/structure radically transformed into a state-of-the-art building under President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s administration in 2008 jointly with the Provincial Government of Laguna fully supported by twenty seven personnel and headed by Dr. RAMON B.
