SENATOR Francis Tolentino believes it’s about time colleges and universities run by local government units must have their own medical schools to address the shortage of doctors in the country.

“Kapag may ospital at may paaralan din ang mga pamahalaang lokal ay talagang dapat magkaroon na nga rin ng medical school. Kasi hindi po sapat na magkaroon lamang po tayo ng gusali at imprastraktura kung wala namang doktor,” Tolentino said.

The senator stressed localities in urban areas outside Metro Manila must have their own hospitals so their residents will not solely depend on existing regional medical facilities, while also noting new hospitals will only function properly if they have enough doctors on their roster.

Tolentino, who used to chair the Senate Committee on Local Government during the 18th Congress, cited the Batangas State University as a primary example in which the institution has already begun its own medical school program.

“‘Yung Batangas State University, nakakatuwa po, kanina may second year na sila na nagtuturo ng medisina — nasa second year na ‘yung mga nag-aaral. Pa trenta-trenta lang muna na estudyante pero malaking bagay po iyon kapag naglaon at nakapagtapos,” Tolentino said.

The Senator on Thursday led the groundbreaking of the new hospital that will soon rise at what is now the Vicente Mendiola Center for Health Infirmary located in Cebu Province’s southern city of Naga.

The senator also urged local government officials to prioritize the health services in their respective localities.