In a groundbreaking move, the Philippines has put forward a significant policy amendment that could potentially revolutionize the medical education landscape for Indian students. The proposed amendment to the Philippine Medical Act of 1959, currently under consideration by the House of Representatives, aims to facilitate easier registration and practice of medicine in the Philippines for international students, particularly those from India.
Under this proposed provision, Indian students who complete their Doctor of Medicine degree from a Philippine College of Medicine recognized by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), along with a 12-month internship, will be eligible to register and practice medicine in the Philippines. The CHED will play a crucial role in issuing the necessary certification to facilitate a smooth transition for Indian graduates seeking to practice in the Philippines.
The potential implications of this initiative are vast. If approved, it could provide a ray of hope for Indian medical students currently studying in the Philippines, who have been grappling with uncertainties regarding their future due to previous regulatory hurdles. Notably, this proposed policy change could pave the way for Indian graduates to not only practice medicine in the Philippines but also pursue further medical education and practice in India.
Dr. B Srinivas, Secretary of the National Medical Commission (NMC), emphasized the importance of ensuring parity in medical education standards between the two countries. The NMC will closely examine the curriculum and quality parameters of Philippine medical colleges to determine eligibility for Indian graduates to appear for examinations such as the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE) in India.
This proposed policy change comes in the wake of earlier regulations by the NMC, which had posed challenges for Indian students pursuing medical education in the Philippines. The NMC’s Foreign Medical Graduate Licentiate (FMGL) Regulations 2021 had mandated rigorous training equivalent to a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) in India for foreign medical graduates, raising concerns among students about their future prospects.
However, the recent proposal from the Philippines signals a potential breakthrough, offering hope to thousands of Indian medical students currently studying in the country. If implemented, this policy change could not only streamline the process for Indian students pursuing medical education in the Philippines but also foster greater collaboration between the two nations in the field of healthcare and medical education.
