THE ASSOCIATION of Philippine Medical Colleges has suspended face-to-face internships in National Capital Region until further notice after the recent surge in Covid19 cases in the region.

APMC President Manuel Dayrit said that all learning activities may be continued online.

He added that respective directors may decide on the suspension of face-to-face rotation based on the guidelines from the national government, Department of Health, Inter-Agency Task Force or local government units to schools outside NCR where Covid19 cases may be rising.

“If there are no specific directives from Commission on Higher Education, we suggest that the respective deans decide on the suspension of face-to-face rotation,” AMPC said.

Last week, six higher education institutions that offer medical programs received CHED’s approval to conduct limited face-to-face classes.

These are the University of the Philippines-Manila, University of Santo Tomas, University of the East-Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center, Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health, Our Lady of Fatima University in Valenzuela and St. Louis University in Baguio.

In a Facebook post, OLFU said its College of Medicine started conducting limited face-to-face classes on March 1, with graduating students joining the first day of implementation.

UERM also announced that it received approval to conduct limited face-to-face classes for its Medicine, Physical Therapy, Nursing and Medical Technology programs.

It was also allowed to hold limited face-to-face classes on the practicum sessions of two of its graduate programs — Master of Science in Nursing (Advance Nursing Practice) and Master of Science in Asian Health Practices.

However, CHED said it will no longer issue additional directives following the indefinite suspension of face-to-face internship and clinical clerkship rotation.

“Conditions on the ground are considered in determining limited face-to-face options. Thus, there will be no need to issue additional directives for such,” CHED chief Prospero De Vera III said.

“The concerned HEIs and LGUs are expected to coordinate with each other on this matter since varying conditions on the ground should be of utmost consideration when it comes to determining the options for limited face-to-face activities,” he added.