CHED approves medicine programs in 5 state universities

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has approved Doctor of Medicine programs in five state universities across the country beginning academic year 2026-2027.

In a statement on Wednesday, CHED said the approval forms part of the government’s efforts to increase the number of healthcare professionals nationwide.

CHED noted that the Philippines currently has only around 7 physicians for every 10,000 people, below the minimum benchmark of 10 doctors per 10,000 population recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Following an evaluation by CHED’s Office of Programs and Standards Development and the Technical Panel for Medicine, five state universities were found compliant with the agency’s requirements for Doctor of Medicine programs.

These are:

• Visayas State University (VSU) in Leyte
• Eastern Samar State University (ESSU)
• University of Eastern Philippines (UEP) in Northern Samar
• Benguet State University (BSU)
• Cotabato State University–Cotabato Regional Medical Center School of Medicine (CCSU-CRMC)

The universities have been authorized to offer the first and second-year levels of their respective Doctor of Medicine programs beginning AY 2026-2027.

According to CHED, the expansion is part of the implementation of the "Doktor para sa Bayan Act," which seeks to increase the number of physicians, particularly in underserved and geographically isolated areas.

The commission said the newly approved programs would help bring medical education closer to students in Eastern Visayas, the Cordillera Administrative Region, and Central Mindanao, reducing the need for aspiring doctors to relocate to major cities to pursue medical training.

CHED also highlighted that Benguet State University will become the first state university in the Cordillera Administrative Region to offer a medical degree program.

With the latest approvals, the government has now established at least one state university with a medicine program in every region of the country, except for the newly created Negros Island Region, which CHED identified as a priority area for future expansion.

The commission said increasing the number of state-funded medical schools is expected to produce more doctors who can serve in their home regions and strengthen healthcare delivery in communities that continue to face shortages of medical professionals.

“By expanding medical program offerings in state-funded institutions, CHED ensures that aspiring and deserving doctors from diverse regions can pursue their medical dreams locally, ultimately strengthening the country’s healthcare system and community-based health service delivery,” the agency said. —VAL, GMA News