Embassy of India

Manila

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ADVISORY ON MEDICAL EDUCATION IN THE PHILIPPINES

The Embassy of India, Manila, has been issuing advisories from time to time for Indian students intending to pursue higher education in the Philippines, particularly the Doctor of Medicine (MD) programme.

2. The Commission on Higher Education (CHED), vide its letter dated 8 May 2025, informed this Embassy that the MD degree awarded by Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the Philippines complies with the requirements prescribed under the Foreign Medical Graduate Licentiate (FMGL) Regulations as under:

• 54-month Doctor of Medicine programme (excluding the pre-medical BS programme) in various CHED-recognized HEIs.
• Mandatory subjects specified in Schedule-I of the National Medical Commission of India notification dated 18 November 2021.
• The programme is entirely in English as the medium of instruction.
• 12-month internship in the same medical institution or its attached hospital.
• Certificate of Registrability for practice in the Philippines.

3. The Embassy also received a copy of Resolution No. 73 adopted by the House of Representatives of the Philippines on 11 March 2026 endorsing that the MD programme earned in CHED-recognized HEIs is fully compliant with the National Medical Commission (NMC) Regulations for Indian students studying abroad. The resolution further stipulates that the full practice of medicine is a privilege granted to all graduates of the Doctor of Medicine programme from CHED-recognized HEIs, whether citizens of the Philippines or foreigners, upon passing the Physician Licensure Examination (PLE), and in the case of foreigners, subject to compliance with immigration laws.

4. As per the existing laws of the Philippines, medical graduates are required to take and qualify the Physician Licensure Examination (PLE) for registration and grant of licence to practice medicine in the Philippines. However, foreign medical graduates can take the PLE only if the laws of their country permit Filipino citizens to practice medicine under the same rules and regulations that govern their own citizens. Guidance from the competent authorities in India on establishing the reciprocity required under Philippine laws is awaited.

5. According to CHED, there is no requirement to qualify the PLE for medical graduates who intend to practice in the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, Switzerland, etc., after appropriate examinations and fulfillment of other requirements prescribed by these countries.

6. Prospective students who intend to take admission in CHED-recognized medical institutions in the Philippines and intend to return and practice in India should verify and satisfy themselves that all NMC-prescribed conditions and criteria are met.

17 June 2026