At least 40 organizations and 1,278 individuals have signed a petition to postpone the September 2021 Physician Licensure Exam.

The Philippine Medical Students’ Association said it has formally filed a petition before the Board of Medicine of the Professional Regulation Commission.

It said that the health and safety of the examinees should be given priority.

The group earlier led a Twitter rally promoting the petition.

“Huwag na natin ulitin ang nangyari sa amin. Hindi birong kumuha ng pagsusulit na para bang baril na nakatutok sa ulo mo ang Covid19. Paano pa ngayong mas mabagsik na Delta variant na ang nasa Pilipinas? Hindi ‘supply’ ng healthcare workers ang problema kundi ang proteksiyon at aksiyon  mula sa gobyerno para pigilan ang paglala ng pandemya na ito. Mas marami tayong magagawa para sa Pilipinas kung buhay tayo,” Martin Magadia, a general physician, said on Twitter.

“Please postpone the PLE. Kung ‘yung bakuna nga nade-delay, ‘yung hazard pay nade-delay, siguro naman kaya ninyo ring i-delay ang PLE, ‘di ba? Asking nicely for our young colleagues,” Carlo Trinidad, also a physician, said.