The evolution of critical care in the Philippines can be traced to the First Astra Symposium on Myocardial Infarction held at the Imperial Hotel in Albay in 1978. This initiative emerged as an offshoot of efforts to organize coronary care units (CCU) and intensive care units (ICU) within the Philippine healthcare setting. However, early momentum was limited, as most CCUs and ICUs were managed by members of the Philippine Heart Association and formal training programs in critical care had not yet been established.
Between 1978 and 1979, Dr. Quintin Gomez co-founded the Western Pacific Association of Critical Care Medicine together with Drs. Ono and Fujiwara, along with Australian colleagues. As Dr. Gomez’s health declined and following his passing, Dr. Cenon Cruz, and subsequently Dr. Herminia L. Cifra, represented the Philippines in the regional body. The concept of formally organizing a Philippine critical care group was later conceptualized during a meeting in Hong Kong in 1987.
The pediatric and adult critical care groups were subsequently organized under the leadership of Dr. Herminia L. Cifra for pediatrics, and Dr. Teresita De Guia and Dr. Ernesto Santos for adult critical care. In 1988, Dr. Cifra established the first formal training program in pediatric critical care at Lungsod ng Kabataan–Philippine Children’s Medical Center and at the University of the Philippines–Philippine General Hospital, with accreditation from the Philippine Pediatric Society. This marked a pivotal step toward structured education and professionalization in the field.
In 1992, the Philippine Society of Critical Care Medicine (PSCCM) was officially founded. Under the leadership of Dr. Ernesto Santos, the Society secured registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 28, 1992, and was accredited as an Affiliate Society of the Philippine Medical Association on November 29, 1994. A dedicated group of professionals, equipped with specialized knowledge in the management of critically ill patients, laid the foundation of what would become a respected and robust discipline within Philippine medicine. They championed continuing medical education, research, and evidence-based clinical practice as cornerstones of advancing patient care.
In February 1999, the 10th International Congress of Critical Care was successfully hosted at the Philippine International Convention Center and the Westin Philippine Plaza, further solidifying the country’s presence in the global critical care community. Subsequent initiatives included joint conventions and postgraduate courses with CCNAPI and SPCCMP, the establishment of the Central Visayas Chapter, and the publication of feature articles in MD Asia and Medical Observer highlighting the Society’s membership, activities, and areas of special interest. Through sustained educational programs, annual workshops, and conventions, the Society has continued to strengthen and advance critical care medicine as an essential component of comprehensive patient care in the Philippines.