CHED to offer more free medical programs in 2024

Commission on Higher Education (CHED) chairman Prospero de Vera III said Wednesday they are targeting to open up to five additional medical schools next year that will offer free medical programs to underprivileged Filipino students.

In a public briefing, de Vera said CHED aims to continue producing world-class doctors and nurses by establishing more medical schools nationwide.

“[Ito’y] para dumami ‘yung mga pamantasan na pwedeng mag-aral nang libre ang mga bata, dumami ang mga ga-graduate na magse-serve sa underserved areas,” he said.

(We want more universities where students could study for free, and so that there will be more graduates who will serve in underserved areas.)

Currently, De Vega said there are 19 public universities across the country offering medical programs, of which eight were approved during the first year of the Marcos administration.

He said that CHED is also collaborating with private institutions with medical programs where they could extend scholarships for qualified students.

“May return service ‘yung syempre [kasi] mas padadamihin natin ‘yung mga eskwelahan,” he added.

(They have to render return service because we will establish more medical schools.) —RF, GMA Integrated News