About Philippines
The Philippines is an archipelagic country, with over 7400 islands. It is located in south-east Asia between the South China Sea and the Pacific Ocean. Only about 1/3rd of the islands are inhabited. The two largest islands, Luzon and Mindanao make up for two-thirds of the total land area. The climate is tropical and the economy is based on agriculture, industry and services. The country’s population is around 109 million, making it the 12th – most populous country in the world. The literacy rate is 99%. The Philippines has substantial ethnic diversity. Though most people can communicate in English, the country has 19 official languages, with Filipino being the most-widely spoken one.
MBBS in Philippines
MBBS in the Philippines is called MD (Doctor of Medicine). Though the name is different, it’s equivalent to MBBS in India and recognized by the National Medical Commission (NMC). There are 38 medical colleges in the Philippines
Top medical colleges in Philippines are as follows.
- University Of Perpetual Help
- UV Gullas College of Medicine
- Emilio Aguinaldo College
- Bicol Christian College of Medicine
- Davao Medical School Foundation
- Cebu Institute of Medicine
Furthermore, Philippines follows the U.S educational model i.e. a 10+4 system, unlike the 10+2 system in India. Therefore, Indian students (NEET qualified and at least 50% in Physics, Chemistry and Biology in Intermediate or +2), have to complete a pre-medical course named BS (Bachelor of Science). The duration of this course is 10-18 months depending on the medical university you get into.
Structure of MBBS
As mentioned earlier, MBBS is a 6-year program which includes the one-year internship and BS. After the completion of BS, you have to clear an entrance test named NMAT (National Medical Admission Test) to be eligible for admission to MD (MBBS). Some universities allow you to join the MD (MBBS) even if you don’t take NMAT. However, you will be awarded the MD (MBBS) only if you clear the NMAT with at least 40%. Once you are done with your pre-med, the curriculum focuses on medicine and clinical training. Students are sent to different health centres and hospitals, where they undergo rigorous training under experienced and specialist doctors. They also have to work in various departments as part of the clinical rotation. The MBBS course in the Philippines is divided into four years, with each year having two semesters. Almost all the subjects and course- work are similar to what MBBS students in India have to contend with.
BS course curriculum
| First Term | Second Term | Third Term | Fourth Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biochemistry | Animal Physiology | Education for sustainability | Human Genetics |
| General Psychology | General Microbiology | Systematic Biology | Taxation and Agrarian Reform |
| Parasitology | Entomology | Ecology | Histology and Micro-Techniques |
| Plant Morpho-Anatomy | Developmental Biology | Research Methodology | Radiation Biology |
| Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy | Freshwater Biology | Cell and Molecular Biology | Research in Biology Sciences |
| Calculus | Plant Physiology | Development | Immunology |
| Geometry | Fundamentals of Genetics | Comparative Religion | Rizal’s life,works and writings |
MBBS course curriculum
| First Term | Second Term | Third Term | Fourth Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Histology | General Pathology | Radiology | Medicine |
| Physiology | Clinical Pathology | Surgery-III | Pediatrics |
| Art and Science of Med 1 | Surgery-II | Dermatology | Clinical skills module |
| Biochemistry | Art and Science of Med 2 | Internal Medicine 3 | Surgery |
| Research | Pediatrics-II | Medical Ethics | Obstetrics and Gynaecology |
| Primary Health Care | Neuroscience II | ENT | – |
| Neuro-anatomy | Pharmacology | Obstetrics and Gynaecology | – |
| Gross Anatomy | Microbiology & Para | Ophthalmology | – |
| – | Research-II | Pediatrics-III | – |
| – | Obstetrics-II | OB-Gyne-III | – |
| – | – | Community Med 3 | – |
| – | – | NS 3 | – |
| – | – | Legal Medicine | – |
| – | – | Rehab Medicine | – |
Why choose the Philippines for MBBS?
English-Speaking Country
Since most people in the Philippines can communicate in English, Indian students do not face any language hurdles while interacting with their professors or with patients in the hospital.
Affordability
Cost of studying mbbs in Philippines
There is no donation/capitation fee in the Philippines. The annual tuition fee ranges between 3 and 6 lakhs depending on the medical university. The living costs are also very reasonable when compared to many other countries. Since universities like DMSF provide decent accommodation on campus, the twin issues of safety and convenience are taken care of. The Davao Medical School Foundation (DMSF) also offers a combination of South and North Indian cuisines to make the students feel completely at home.
FMGE (Foreign Medical Graduate Examination)
As you know, foreign medical graduates have to clear the FMGE to receive the medical license to practise in India. In its latest report, the National Board of Examination (NBE), which conducts FMGE, has pointed out that medical graduates from Philippines consistently outperform students, who complete their MBBS from other countries such as, China, Russia, Nepal, and Central Asian Republics. This performance speaks volumes about the quality of education in the Filipino Medical Universities.
Career options post-MBBS
Owing to the fact that medical education system in the Philippines closely mirrors the system in the U.S, pursuing post-graduation in countries such as the U.S., Canada, is always an excellent option. In fact, many Indian students, after completing MBBS in the Philippines, have been practising successfully throughout the western world, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand etc.