Amid viral CHED notice, govt urges students to verify medical education norms in Philippines

Amid viral CHED notice, govt urges students to verify medical education norms in Philippines 

Ayushi.Gupta1@timesofindia.com  04.08.2025

Following the recent notification floating on the internet, claiming to be from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) of the Philippines, which stated that its Doctor of Medicine (MD) programme complies with the eligibility criteria outlined by National Medical Commission (NMC) in India, under the Foreign Medical Graduate Licentiate (FMGL) Regulations, 2021, there has been a noticeable interest among aspiring students. The health ministry has warned the students to be watchful of the official notice before enrolling in medical colleges in the Philippines. The ministry noticed that academic consultants are promoting the Philippines as an NMC-recognised destination to pursue medical studies, many of them refraining from giving complete information and offering false assurances regarding eligibility for the FMGE or NExT exams in India. However, it is important to note that due to existing provisions under the Philippine Medical Act of 1959, the validity of CHED’s notice dated July 15, 2025, remains uncertain and does not give clarity on its eligibility in India. 

Speaking to Education Times on the condition of anonymity, an official from the Union health ministry says, “Any student who completes their medical graduation from a country that fully complies with the FMGL Regulations, 2021, will automatically be eligible to appear for the Indian medical licensing exam. There is no need for the NMC to issue a separate notification in such cases. However, students are strongly advised to carefully review the regulatory requirements before choosing to study Medicine abroad.” A notice dated July 15, 2025, came to light after a law firm, Sarmiento Delson and Dacanay Law Offices, located in Quezon City of Philippines, requested to issue a statement confirming that CHED accredited medical schools are compliant with the Indian regulations. However, no such notice is found on the official CHED website.

A second-year MD student from Amravati, Maharashtra, studying at Emilio Aguinaldo College, Manila, Philippines, says, “There are over 500 Indian students in my university alone, and some larger universities have thousands of Indian students pursuing medical courses. After the FMGL Regulations 2021, NMC closed the doors on us to return to India as practicing doctors. The only hope to make this degree useful is by clearing the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) or the Australian Medical Council exam (AMC). Considering the limited job opportunities in the UK, I am not opting for it. Even staying in the Philippines is not an option for Indians due to the ‘reciprocity’ provision under the Philippine Medical Act of 1959.” 

Under the reciprocity provision of the Philippine Medical Act of 1959, a foreigner may be allowed to practice medicine in the Philippines without passing the Physicians Licensure Examination (PLE) if the foreigner’s home country grants citizens of the Philippines the same privilege under similar conditions. The notice available online states, “All holders of an MD degree from the Philippines, regardless of nationality or citizenship, may obtain a valid license to practice in countries such as the USA, UK, Canada, Switzerland, Australia, and others, without needing to appear for the PLE in the Philippines, subject to passing appropriate examinations and meeting other requirements in those respective countries.”