The Philippines is expected to see a 25-30% increase in the number of Indian students studying medicine after recent legislative changes that allow foreign students to practise medicine locally after earning their Doctor of Medicine degree, according to a foreign education consultant.
“The change marks a watershed moment not only for Indian students, but for all international medical students studying in the Philippines. It establishes a clear path for our graduates to practise medicine locally or worldwide. “This change will strengthen the Philippines’ position as a leading destination for medical education in the Asia-Pacific region,” stated Kadwin Pillai, director of Transworld Educare and chairman of Kings International Medical Academy.
The move will also benefit students aiming for medical practice in India as it aligns with the National Medical Council’s (NMC) rule that mandates possessing a valid practising licence to appear in the Indian screening test after they return from studying abroad.
Annually, around 2,000 Indian students go to the Philippines for medical studies, which is expected to grow by 25-30 per cent, as the country offers high-quality education at competitive costs, with tuition fees significantly lower than those in the Western countries, Pillai told PTI.
After the legislative amendment, Indian students who complete their Doctor of Medicine degree from a Philippine College of Medicine recognised by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), with a 12-month internship, will be eligible to register and practice medicine in the Philippines.
In India, a record 2.4 million students appeared for the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (UG) this year. Overall, around 20,000 Indian students go abroad for medical education.
The top five countries that Indian students go to study medicine, include Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, and the Philippines, among others.
Earlier, Indian students also went to China and Ukraine for medical education, Pillai said.
“However, the numbers dropped significantly after the Covid-19 pandemic for China and Ukraine after the Ukraine-Russia war,” he added.
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