SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian reiterated the need for upgraded standards on basic medical education, medical internship, and post-graduate medical education and training following the Commission on Higher Education’s approval of the application of Samar State University to operate a Doctor of Medicine program.

The Samar Island Institute of Medicine will operate SSU’s Doctor of Medicine Program.

The program is the twentieth medical program in public universities approved by CHED.

In 2022, Gatchalian filed the Physicians Act or Senate Bill No. 953, which proposes the creation of the Medical Education Council under the CHED’s administrative supervision.

The MEC’s functions will include setting the minimum required curriculum leading to the degree of Doctor of Medicine, including internship.

The bill will also mandate the MEC to be in charge of the recognition and authorization of the opening of new medical schools and their compliance with minimum requirements.

Under the Physicians Act, Gatchalian also seeks to address policies that have long been absent in existing laws on the medical profession such as opening up the practice of the profession to foreigners conditioned on reciprocity; providing for penalties for illegal practice of medicine; and stipulating a definition of medical malpractice and the corresponding penalties for such.

“Maliban sa pagpapalawak ng access sa medical schools, mahalagang matiyak natin na angkop, napapanahon, at dekalidad na edukasyon ang matatanggap ng mga susunod na henerasyon ng ating mga medical professionals. Kaya naman naghain tayo ng panukalang batas para maging mas handa tayong tumugon sa mga pagbabagong hatid sa atin ng agham, teknolohiya, at pananaliksik,” said Gatchalian.

The proposed measure also seeks the creation of the Professional Regulatory Board of Medicine (PRBM) under the Professional Regulation Commission, which will supervise, regulate, and monitor the practice of medicine in the Philippines, including telemedicine.

The PRBM will also be in charge of conducting the Physician Licensure Examination.

Under the PRBM, the Post-Graduate Medical Education Council will be created to ensure the quality of post-graduate medical education and training for all disciplines, specialties, and sub-specialties of medical residents.

Gatchalian’s proposal further proposes to place the entire medical profession under the Integrated National Professional Organization of Physicians, which will have the power to investigate violations of the law, and Code of Ethics, among others.