In 1975, the science of toxicology was introduced in the country with the establishment of a poison control center at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH). This was in response to the increasing incidence of poisoning brought about by indiscriminate use of pesticides. Activities of the Center focused on the management of acute poisoning cases and research.

The true picture of poisoning in the country remained unknown because data generated during this period came mainly from the PGH Poison Control Center only. The number of poisoning cases seen from 1984-1989 at the PGH only averaged 190 per year. Limited data on poisoning cases were available from other hospitals in the different regions in the country. The 1987 statistics from the Department of Health (DOH) reported 279 poisoning cases with an incidence rate of 0.5/100,000 population. In 25% of these cases, the type of poison was not specified or identified. The mortality rates were 3.86% and 8.7% in 1978-1982 and 1983-1987, respectively. The limited poisoning data for the country was mainly due to underreporting and misdiagnosis of cases.

A study involving 20 tertiary hospitals in Metro Manila was done in 1989 to determine the accuracy of response among Emergency Room (ER) personnel to telephone inquiries on poisoning. Results showed that ER personnel were giving correct advice in only 37.5% of calls regarding poisoning due to isoniazid (INH) and 55% of calls about kerosene ingestion. It became evident that there was a problem of diagnosis and management of poisoning cases.

Health professionals handling poisoning cases did not have any access to an information system nor training in toxicology through which they would be able to gain knowledge on poisoning and its appropriate management. The University of the Phiippines College of Medicine was the only institution that included the teaching of toxicology in its curriculum. Activities to improve public and health sector awareness of the hazards of chemicals and their toxicities were limited. Furthermore, a standardized system of data collection, monitoring and evaluation of poisoning cases did not exist.

This situation highlighted the urgency of setting up a national poison control center and its network of satellite centers to take responsibility and assume the lead role for all matters related to poisoning in the country.

Expanding outreach, upgrading services

In 1991, the Poisons Control and Information Service Network (PCISN) was created through a grant from the Canadian agency, the International Development Research Centre (IDRC). The main objectives of the project were to advocate for poisoning prevention, and to improve management of poisoning cases. In line with this project, the UP-PGH Poison Control Center was renamed to become the National Poison Control and Information Service (NPCIS) with the Philippine General Hospital serving as the training and service hospital and the Department of Pharmacology coordinating related efforts of other departments of the hospital, namely Family Medicine, Emergency Medicine Services, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Surgery, and Psychiatry. The project covered a period of four years, from 1991-1995. The services of the NPCIS included the following:

• Clinical treatment service
• Poison information service
• Analytical toxicology service
• Teaching/training service
• Research & development service
• Linkage and extension service

Also, in 1991, additional support to strengthen the above services was received from the Gesselschaft fur Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ).

Working closely with the Department of Health

With the establishment of NPCIS, a memorandum of agreement on partnership was signed by the Department of Health Secretary (Dr. Antonio Periquet) and the Chancellor of U.P. Manila (Dr. Ernesto Domingo) in June 2, 1992. The memorandum of agreement was reaffirmed on September 25, 1992 by the new Health Secretary who assumed office a few months later, Dr. Juan Flavier. Through this partnership , satellite poison centers in different regions of the country were established.

The NPCIS thus became the focal point of a nationwide network that has since been involved in managing poisoning cases, conducting health assessment activities on the health effects of chemical exposure among high-risk communities , conducting training courses and researches that are relevant for policy formulation.

NPMCC and the UP-PGH community

The Center has always been based at the University of the Philippines-Manila, working with the different clinical departments of the PGH with regards management of poisoning cases and training of resident physicians and clinical fellows. It also collaborates with the basic science departments, particularly the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, on the academic training of clinical fellows, the conduct of postgraduate courses, and the strengthening of the analytical toxicology laboratory.

The NPCIS was recognized as a unit in the College of Medicine by virtue of College Circular No. 2003-A32 issued by Dean Ramon L. Arcadio on March 21, 2003 .

The PGH-Poison Control and Information Unit was created in July 23, 2003 by then Director Juan Pablo R. Nañagas through Memorandum No. 2003-73.

In January 27, 2005, the Board of Regents of the University of the Philippines in its 1192 nd meeting approved the merging of the NPCIS and the PGH-PCIU. The unit was named National Poison Management and Control Center.