Two senators has lauded President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for recently signing into law measures that would increase the number of medical schools in the Philippines. 

Among the measures that the President had signed include Republic Act (RA) 11970, which will create the Benguet State University College of Medicine; RA 11971, Southern Luzon State University College of Medicine; RA 11972, University of Eastern Philippines College of Medicine; and RA 11974, the Visayas State University College of Medicine.

Meanwhile, RA 11973 allows Bicol University to have its own College of Veterinary Medicine.

“I thank President Marcos for his expeditious action. The new laws that have been passed are a big deal in the education sector, especially allowing some universities to establish new colleges for medical courses,” Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero said in a statement.

“We are now closer to our goal of offering medical courses in various parts of the country to meet the health needs of the Filipino people,” said Escudero, chairman of the Senate Committee on Higher Education.

Escudero noted that the country is already 114,000 short of doctors even before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, based on data from the Department of Health (DOH). 

“Even if our population increase decelerates and stabilizes at 1.5 million a year, this would still have to be matched with new entrants to the medical profession,” he said.

Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go, chairman of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, also welcomed the new laws, highlighting their long-term benefits as more Filipinos would be given a chance to pursue medical professions and increasing the potential of making the Philippines a hub for medical excellence.

“These steps will bring long-term benefits to our country. We hope that in the future, we will not only be known as a nation that sends excellent healthcare workers abroad but also as a hub of medical excellence right here in our own homeland,” Go said.

Go also highlighted the long-term benefits of these laws as more Filipinos would be given opportunities to pursue medical professions and increasing the potential of making the Philippines a hub for medical excellence.

These new institutions would also promote research and innovation in the field of medicine.

“The establishment of new colleges of medicine will also serve as centers of research and innovation that will contribute to the advancement of our healthcare practices,” he said.

Go also said the new laws would complement Republic Act 11509 or the “Doktor Para sa Bayan Act,” a medical scholarship and return service program for deserving students who want to pursue a degree in medicine in state universities and colleges (SUCs).