THE Philippines’ medical education sector is set to grow further after the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) approved Doctor of Medicine programs in five state universities and colleges (SUCs).

The move follows the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to strengthen the country’s health workforce by expanding training opportunities for future doctors and nurses across the nation.

In a statement released Wednesday, CHED said the newly approved programs underwent thorough evaluation and deliberation, ensuring compliance with academic and institutional standards.

CHED emphasized that the expansion of medical education in state-funded institutions will give more students, especially those from provincial areas, a better chance to pursue medicine closer to home.

“This initiative allows aspiring doctors from various regions to access quality medical education locally, which in turn supports the development of stronger, community-based healthcare services,” the agency said.

The approved SUCs include Benguet State University in the Cordillera Administrative Region; Visayas State University, Eastern Samar State University, and the University of Eastern Philippines in Eastern Visayas; and Cotabato State University–Cotabato Regional Medical Center School of Medicine in Soccsksargen.

With this approval, Benguet State University becomes the first SUC in the Cordillera region to offer a Doctor of Medicine program.

The institutions are authorized to begin operations for first- and second-year levels of the MD program starting Academic Year 2026–2027.

The expansion is also aligned with the government’s efforts under the Doktor Para sa Bayan Act, which seeks to address the shortage of physicians, particularly in underserved areas such as Samar, Leyte, the Cordilleras, and Central Mindanao.

CHED added that with the latest approvals, nearly all regions in the country now have at least one state university offering a medical program, except for the newly created Negros Island Region, which is expected to be prioritized next.