The Physicians Diagnostic Services Center (PDSC), Inc. began in 1978 as a modest medical and dental facility crammed in a 32 square meter office at the Prudential Assurance Building in Intramuros. Dr. Pedro de Guzman, its Founder and Medical Director, managed a staff of seven (7) employees consisting of a physician, a dentist, an optometrist, a medical technologist, an x-ray technician, a psychometrician, and a nurse. PDSC specialized in occupational medicine. With company retainerships, the clinic rendered pre-employment medical examinations for businesses such as the Central Textile Mills and for employees of the North and South Harbors. Students of the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) submitted to physical examinations at the clinic.
In the latter part of the year, as Dr. De Guzman was determined to serve the steady stream of Filipino workers seeking employment abroad, PDSC terminated its corporate service contracts to focus on the overseas Filipino workers’ (OFW’s) pre-employment examination needs. Facilities were refurbished and equipment upgraded to better serve an increasing number of clients.
In 1980, PDSC expanded to occupy the ground floor of the same building. As private recruitment and manning agencies flourished, so did the number of clients. PDSC extended its facilities to the fourth floor where it was once located.
By 1984, Dr. De Guzman had perceived the long-term viability of conducting pre-employment examinations. The clinic was re-inspected by authorities and had passed stringent evaluation. It was accredited by the Department of Health (DOH) and the Overseas Employment Development Board (now Philippine Overseas Employment Administration or POEA). It became one of only 3 clinics in the country accredited by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Within two years, as various embassies began to regulate and recognize credible medical clinics, PDSC earned accreditation from most relevant agencies and institutions. The clinic was recognized as one of the largest and most modern medical facilities specifically for pre-employment examinations.
PDSC moved to its own building in August 1988, the nine-storey Physicians Tower along United Nations Avenue in Ermita, Manila. The clinic occupied three (3) floors amounting to 900 square meters of clinic space. Among its state-of-the-art equipment are x-ray, pulmonary function test, ECG machine, treadmill and others imported from Japan and Hongkong. The clinic later acquired other exclusive laboratory equipment from multinational drug companies.
To keep up with the ever changing needs and requirements of its clientele, PDSC was fully computerized in 1994. Through its computer network, result inquiries, data transmittal, certificate production, records storage and retrieval were accomplished fast and more efficiently. More and more reputable agencies have preferred to send their applications to PDSC.
Recognizing that Filipino seafarers are among the highly-skilled and preferred crew by international shipping companies, PDSC established exclusive facilities for them. The move did not only assure a smooth flow of operations but also gained approval from various manning agencies and their principals.
Now on its 30th year, PDSC occupies nine (9) floors of clinic space and employs over 110 trained professionals. PDSC was ISO certified in 2001, having received its Certificate of Approval for its Quality Management System applicable to:
Provision of Pre-Employment Medical Examination to Land-Based and Sea-Based Overseas Contract Workers
Under Approval Certificate No. SG03/5030/PH granted by the Societe Generale de Surveillance (SGS).
