SEVERAL groups of medical students on Friday reiterated their calls to postpone the Physician Licensure Examination nationwide, days after the Philippine Regulatory Commission cancelled the PLE in the National Capital Region.

On Thursday, two days prior to the exam, the PRC announced that the PLE scheduled on September 11, 12, 18, and 19 in NCR will be cancelled.

However, it said that the licensure exam for physicians will continue in Baguio, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Legazpi, Lucena, Tacloban, Tuguegarao and Zamboanga.

In a statement, the Association of Philippine Medical Colleges Incorporated said that the months of preparation for the exam, as well as requirements in compliance with health protocols, “have been rendered futile.”

“The PRC’s delayed response and lack of a definite reschedule date for the NCR PLE has further plunged the board takers into uncertainty,” APMC said.

“We, along with several other individuals and organizations, renew our call for the urgent nationwide postponement of the September PLE to a reasonably safer time,” it added.

The Philippine Medical Students Association lamented that PRC does not care about the welfare of the examinees and other personnel involved in the conduct of the exams.

“Hindi po uniform at hindi malinaw kung sino ang sasagot sa examinees natin kung sakaling magka-Covid sila,” Diane Malaso of PMSA said.

Malaso, however, pointed out that they are willing to take the exams in batches as long as safety is guaranteed.