Health professionals are one of the biggest exports of the Philippines and a significant source of tax revenue for the government which subsidises medical education.
[1] Formal medical education was introduced in the Philippines by the Spaniards through University of Santo Tomas “Facultad de Medicina y Farmacia” on May 28, 1871.
[2] Before applying to any medical school, a candidate must earn a bachelor's degree with credits in certain required subjects.
Students from countries with direct entrance programs to medicine without a bachelor's degree, such as countries that follow the British system of training, are required to attend a two-year pre-medical program that leads to a bachelor's degree in biology.
is a four-year professional degree program dealing with medical theories, practices, technologies, and problem solving.
The first year is composed of basic sciences courses including Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, Cell Biology (Histology), Embryology, Microbiology, Immunology, Neuroscience, and Pharmacology.
The second year is composed of organ-based abnormal physiology (pathophysiology) courses such as Gastroenterology, Pulmonology, Cardiology, Ophthalmology, Hematology/Oncology, Nephrology, Obstetrics/Gynecology, Dermatology, Psychiatry, Orthopedics, Neurology, and Urology.
The fourth year is composed of subspecialty rotations such as neurosurgery, dermatology, otolaryngology, orthopedics, ophthalmology, urology, cardiology, critical care, emergency medicine, and forensic medicine/pathology.
Fellows are physicians who have completed a residency program in their primary specialty (ie, Anesthesia, Surgery, Internal Medicine...) who are pursuing subspecialty training.
[13] [14] Residency and fellowship curriculum include didactics (lectures, grand rounds, morbidity and mortality conferences) and practical exercises (clinical simulation, skills/procedures training on a manikin or standardized patient) in a classroom, simulation lab, and clinical laboratory settings.
Medical graduates must spend one-year in general medicine, pediatrics, or surgery prior to entering residency.
[15] Medical graduates who have completed an internship may obtain a license to practice independently as a general practitioner or pursue further training by applying to residency programs.
degree by applying to a combined dual-degree medical program (i.e. MD-PhD, MD-MBA, MD-MS, MD-MPH).
[16] [17] The licensure exams for physicians (board exam for doctors) are administered by the Philippine Board of Medicine, a professional regulatory body under the general control and supervision of the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) of the Philippines.
Limited practice privileges are granted to foreign physicians under an exchange program or are commissioned medical officers of the US Armed Forces.