The Philippines recently released legislation according to which foreign students will be allowed to practice medicine locally after earning a Doctor of Medical degree. As per the foreign consultant, “the amendment is a landmark achievement, not only for Indian students but for all foreign medical students studying in the Philippines.” It provides a clear pathway for our graduates to practice medicine locally or internationally.”
The new announcement by the Philippine foreign consultant is likely to attract 25 to 30 percent more international students. The decision would also help students who want to become doctors in India because it complies with the National Medical Council’s (NMC) regulation requiring them to return from their overseas studies with a valid practicing license in order to take the Indian screening exam.
Annually, approximately 2,000 Indian students move to the Philippines for medical studies, which is likely to increase by 25–30% because the country provides high-quality education at competitive prices, with tuition fees much lower than those in Western countries, Pillai told PTI.
Following the legislative amendment, Indian students who complete their Doctor of Medicine degree from a Philippine College of Medicine, recognized by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), along with a 12-month internship, will be eligible to register and practice medicine in the Philippines.
The top destinations for Indian students studying medicine include Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, and the Philippines. Previously, many Indian students also chose China and Ukraine for their medical education. However, according to Pillai, the number of Indian students going to these countries has significantly decreased due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the Ukraine-Russia war.
