CHEd approves doctor of medicine programs in 5 SUCs

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) has approved the applications of five state universities and colleges (SUCs) to operate a Doctor of Medicine program for the incoming school year as part of efforts to address the shortage of health-care professionals in the country.

“The Philippines has long struggled with a severe shortage of medical practitioners,” CHEd said in a statement on Wednesday, noting the need to expand the country’s medical and nursing education programs in order to increase the number of health-care professionals.

Citing a 2025 study by Ateneo de Manila University, the commission said the country’s physician-to-population ratio is just 7.92 per 10,000 people, below the 10 per 10,000 standard recommended by the World Health Organization.

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READ: UP launches first Mindanao medical school to address doctor shortage

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Amid this shortage, CHEd said five SUCs have received approval to operate the first and second-year levels of their respective Doctor of Medicine programs for the academic year 2026-2027.

The SUCs were Visayas State University in Baybay City, Leyte; Eastern Samar State University in Borongan, Eastern Samar; University of Eastern Philippines in Catarman, Northern Samar; Benguet State University in La Trinidad, Benguet; and Cotabato State University – Cotabato Regional Medical Center School of Medicine in Cotabato City.

According to CHEd, the applications were approved following a thorough evaluation and deliberation by its Office of Programs and Standards Development and the Technical Panel for Medicine.

The five SUCs were found to be fully compliant with the minimum requirements outlined under CHEd memorandum order No. 18 regarding the policies, standards, and guidelines for the Doctor of Medicine program.

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With these approvals, CHEd said underserved areas such as Samar, Leyte, the Cordilleras, and Central Mindanao will now have access to high-quality medical education.

It noted that Benguet State University will be the first SUC in the Cordillera Administrative Region to offer a Doctor of Medicine program.

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CHEd said every region in the country now has at least one SUC offering a medicine program, except for the Negros Island Region, which will be the commission’s next priority. /mr

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