2 Visayas and Mindanao SUCs allowed to offer medicine program

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has approved the applications of two state universities (SUCs) in the Visayas and Mindanao to offer a Doctor of Medicine program, to make medical education more accessible to students in the provinces.

The authority to operate the Doctor of Medicine program was recently granted to the Bohol Island State University (BISU) in Tagbilaran and the University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines (USTP) in Cagayan de Oro City.

The two SUCs were found compliant with the minimum requirement to operate the program, the CHED said.

“The expansion of medical education will facilitate the implementation of Republic Act 11509, or An Act Establishing a Medical Scholarship and Return Service program for Deserving Students,” CHED chairman Prospero de Vera said.

RA 11509, known as the Doktor para sa Bayan Law, aims to increase the number of doctors in remote areas by establishing a medical scholarship and return service program for deserving students in SUCs or in partner private higher education institutions in regions where no SUCs offer medical courses.

The BISU and USTP can start accepting students for their Doctor of Medicine programs this coming school year.

De Vera said the two SUCs would be evaluated after two years for government recognition, which will allow them to offer a full four-year program.