The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has announced that the Caraga Region will now have its first public medical school.
![CHED.png](https://images.mb.com.ph/production/CHED_c171b94d40.png)
In a statement, CHED confirmed that it has authorized Caraga State University (CSU) to offer a Doctor of Medicine program starting in Academic Year 2025-2026.
CSU, CHED said, will be the 25th state university in the Philippines to offer a Doctor of Medicine program.
CHED Secretary Popoy De Vera emphasized that one of the Marcos administration's flagship programs is “expanding access to medical education to ensure that we produce more doctors who will serve underserved areas.”
“With the approval of CSU to operate the Doctor of Medicine program, only one region remains without a state university offering medical education. We are now very close to fulfilling the mandate of the Doktor Para sa Bayan Act,” he added.
As the first state university in the Caraga Region to offer a Doctor of Medicine program, CSU will play a key role in implementing Republic Act No. 11509, or the Doktor Para sa Bayan law, CHED explained.
According to CHED, the Doktor Para sa Bayan law aims to improve access to medical education by offering quality yet affordable programs in state universities and colleges (SUCs) and by providing Medical Scholarship and Return Service (MSRS) grants to financially disadvantaged but deserving students.
CHED noted that MSRS scholars are required to fulfill a return service agreement in far-flung and underserved communities upon passing the licensure examination.
“With CSU’s institutional commitment, we can now produce more doctors who will serve underserved areas, particularly in geographically isolated and disadvantaged communities or municipalities lacking government physicians,” De Vera said.
First-ever medical school in Caraga
CSU President Rolyn C. Daguil highlighted that the CSU-School of Medicine will be the first-ever medical school in Caraga and the future home of “five-star physicians.”
“The approval of this program is a moment of hope and pride, as it has been long awaited. It marks the beginning of a brighter future for equitable healthcare services in the region,” Daguil added.
Before the passage of the Doktor Para sa Bayan law, CHED noted that only eight SUCs had medical schools—five in Luzon, two in the Visayas, and one in Mindanao.
CHED stated that there are now 25 SUCs offering Doctor of Medicine programs—11 in Luzon, five in the Visayas, and nine in Mindanao, including CSU.
To date, CHED reported that a total of 2,971 financially challenged but deserving students are benefiting from medical scholarships in public and private medical schools nationwide under the Doktor Para sa Bayan law.
“These scholars will practice in underserved areas upon graduation through a return service agreement as part of their scholarship grant,” CHED added.