MANILA, Philippines — Aspiring doctors in the Philippines have more options as the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) approved four higher education institutions (HEIs) to offer Doctor of Medicine programs beginning Academic Year 2026–2027.
The latest approvals cover Tarlac State University (TSU), North Eastern Mindanao State University (NEMSU), Cavite State University (CvSU), and Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Muntinlupa (PLMun).
According to CHED, TSU and NEMSU were granted Government Permits to operate the first and second year levels of their Doctor of Medicine programs. Meanwhile, CvSU and PLMun received Certificates of Program Compliance (COPC) for their medicine programs.
The development is part of the government’s broader push to expand access to medical education and increase the country’s pool of doctors and other healthcare professionals, particularly in areas where medical manpower remains a concern.
Four schools receive CHED approval
The four HEIs received different forms of authorization from CHED.
Tarlac State University and North Eastern Mindanao State University can offer the first two years of their Doctor of Medicine programs after receiving government permits.
The move is particularly significant for NEMSU, which is based in Surigao del Sur. Earlier this year, the House of Representatives approved a bill seeking to establish a College of Medicine at NEMSU’s main campus in Tandag City. The measure was approved by the House on June 2 and transmitted to the Senate on June 8.
Meanwhile, Cavite State University and Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Muntinlupa were granted Certificates of Program Compliance, signifying compliance with CHED’s requirements for their Doctor of Medicine programs.
CHED said the four institutions underwent evaluation visits to verify compliance with the commission’s minimum requirements for Doctor of Medicine programs under CHED Memorandum Order No. 18, Series of 2016.
CHED stresses quality alongside access
CHED Chairperson Shirley Agrupis emphasized that expanding the number of institutions offering medicine should not come at the expense of educational quality.
The commission said greater access to medical education must be accompanied by adequate training and competency development so future physicians are prepared to respond to the country’s healthcare needs.
The Doctor of Medicine program is classified as a post-baccalaureate professional program consisting of basic science and clinical courses. Under the Philippine Qualifications Framework registry, the program is designed to develop physicians capable of clinical practice, effective communication, teamwork, research, ethical practice and community-oriented healthcare.
Part of a larger push to address the doctor shortage
The latest approvals come amid continuing efforts to expand medical education outside the country’s traditional medical-school centers.
In June, CHED also approved medicine programs at Visayas State University, Eastern Samar State University, University of Eastern Philippines, Benguet State University, and Cotabato State University-Cotabato Regional Medical Center School of Medicine, with the programs covering their first and second year levels for AY 2026–2027.
The Philippine Star reported in June that CHED cited a physician-to-population ratio of 7.92 doctors per 10,000 people, below the World Health Organization’s commonly cited benchmark of 10 doctors per 10,000 population.
The expansion also reflects the policy direction under the Medical Scholarship and Return Service Act (Republic Act No. 11509), which calls for measures to increase the number of medical schools and strengthen the supply of doctors, particularly in underserved communities. The law directs CHED, in coordination with the Department of Health, to help ensure medical education opportunities are available across regions.
What this means for aspiring medical students
For students planning to pursue medicine, the new approvals could mean more opportunities to study closer to home instead of relocating to established medical-school hubs.
However, the CHED announcement does not mean that all four institutions are necessarily in the same stage of program implementation. TSU and NEMSU’s government permits specifically cover their first and second year levels, while CvSU and PLMun have received Certificates of Program Compliance.
Students interested in applying should therefore check directly with each university for its admission requirements, application schedule, tuition and other fees, available slots, curriculum, and the specific year levels currently authorized.
With more institutions entering the medical-education landscape, the bigger question is no longer simply whether aspiring doctors will have more places to study.
It is whether these expanded opportunities can ultimately help put more well-trained physicians where the Philippines needs them most.
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