Philippines MD Degree Now NMC Compliant! Indian Students Eligible for FMGE, NExT
National Medical Commission
New Delhi: Bringing good news to the medical aspirants willing to pursue their undergraduate medical education in the Philippines, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) of the Philippines has officially confirmed that its Doctor of Medicine (MD) programmes align with the latest eligibility norms set by the National Medical Commission (NMC) in India.
The assurance in this regard was issued through a formal communication between CHED and the Embassy of India in Manila. Issuing an advisory, the embassy announced that the Indian individuals who graduate from Philippine medical schools accredited by CHED are now qualified to sit for both the forthcoming National Exit Test (NExT) and Foreign Medical Graduates Examination (FMGE), the screening test that the FMGs must clear to be able to practice in India.
As per the latest details, the M.D. program in the Philippines now fulfils all the mandatory components outlined by the NMC including the following:
√ A 54-month Doctor of Medicine Program, not including the undergraduate premedical course
√ English-medium instruction throughout the course.
√ All necessary subjects are covered in accordance with the NMC Schedule I (Gazette Notification dated November 18, 2021).
√ A one-year internship at the same institution or an affiliated hospital
√ A degree that can be registered and used in the Philippines.
Why MBBS in Philippines became unrecognised in India?
Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that releasing the Foreign Medical Graduate Licentiate (FMGL) Regulations that had been published on 18.11.2021, NMC had specified that henceforth the minimum duration of the MBBS curriculum outside the country has to be 54 months (4.5 years).
As a result of this, the FMGs pursuing their medical education in Philippines faced uncertainty regarding their future. This is because the majority of medical colleges in the Philippines offer a composite program with a first two-year BS course and thereafter a 4 year MD course (Graduate /Primary Medical Course being equivalent to MBBS). Since neither course was of 4.5 years duration, they became invalid after implementation of the FMGL 2021 regulations.
NMC's decision affected around 10,000 Indian medical students who were pursuing the BS course in the Philippines. Even though the Indian Embassy in Milan in the Philippines, wrote to the NMC seeking relief for those students enrolled in the BS course, NMC turned down the request of the Indian Embassy to accept the BS course as a part of their undergraduate medical education curriculum.
However, the students continued their protest, and NMC also received several representations from various State Medical Councils. Further, it considered grievances regarding various difficulties faced by foreign medical graduates, especially the students from Ukraine and the Philippines.
Finally, in December 2023, NMC granted a major relief to the FMGs in the Philippines as it declared that students who were studying the BS Course or had taken admission to the said course and were pursuing their studies physically in the medical institute abroad at the time of publication of the FMGL Regulation 2021, would be allowed to continue their medical education. However, while providing this one-time exemption specific to such students, NMC had clarified that such students would have to undergo an additional year of internship as per the CRMI Regulation, 2021.
Allowing Indian Students with M.D Degree from Philippines to Practice locally:
Last year, the House of Representatives approved an amendment to the Philippine Medical Act of 1959 to allow medical students from abroad, including medical stduents from India, to register and practice medicine in the Philippines, after completing their Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree.
However, it had been specified that to avail this benefit, the college where the international students are studying must be recognized by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). Further, the aspirants will also have to complete a 12-month internship.
Philippines Medical Degree Now Meets NMC Norms:
In a major relief to the Indian students willing to pursue medicine in the Philippines, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has decided to align its Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) programmes with the NMC eligibility norms.
Commenting on this, a third-year MD student at Davao Medical School Foundation (DMSF) expressed relief and told Free Press Journal, "When I found out that the Philippines' MD program is now aligned with NMC norms, I felt extremely relieved. There was a lot of uncertainty earlier, and this update brought me peace of mind. Now, I can focus on my studies without constantly worrying about the eligibility of my degree."
The student, Aditya, further pointed out how the ambiguity had affected his long-term plans. He added, "Yes, I was genuinely concerned about my eligibility for FMGE or NExT due to the lack of clarity in previous years. At one point, I even had to rethink all my future plans. But now that the MD degree from DMSF and the Philippines is officially recognised, I feel assured and more focused on my academic goals."
He had considered pursuing medical education in other countries such as Ukraine and Georgine. However, explaining why he chose the Philippines, the student added, "It was more affordable, the medium of instruction is English, and the climate and disease pattern is very similar to India. Most importantly, I chose DMSF through Transworld and Dr David Pillai, who were extremely supportive and helped students with everything, from accommodation to food and other basic needs. The teaching at DMSF is well-structured and student-focused, and the university has a strong FMGE passing rate, which was a major factor in my decision."
Aditya, who is now preparing for the mandatory screening test in India, added, "Yes, I’m planning to take the FMGE or NExT after I graduate from DMSF, as I have to serve my country. I’ve already started preparing by solving previous years’ questions and going through lecture reviews."
Expressing similar sentiments, an MBBS graduate from DMSF and a current FMGE aspirant, Dr. Pankaj Kokate said, "It feels great that the Philippine M.D. program now aligns with NMC guidelines. This means Indian students are receiving education that matches our country’s standards. Since medical education and practice in the Philippines are similar to India’s, it’s the best opportunity for Indian students to achieve their dream and serve the community."
Referring to the earlier confusion, he added, "Yes, the lack of clarity around eligibility made me nervous while preparing for FMGE. Uncertainty about whether you even qualify for the exam affects how you prepare. But now that CHED has officially communicated the alignment, and it’s accepted by the Indian Medical Council, we can focus purely on our studies."
"One big positive is that DMSF’s FMGE passing rate is consistently above 85%," he pointed out.
Meanwhile, a graduate from Bicol Christian College of Medicine, Philippines, Rohit, said, "I completed my MD in 2023 and have been preparing for the FMGE ever since. The recent confirmation that our degrees are now fully aligned with NMC norms gives me a sense of closure. For a long time, there was a fear that all our years of hard work might not count in India. Now, I can concentrate on revising confidently without second-guessing the legitimacy of my qualification."
Embassy Advises Aspirants to Comply with the Following Guidelines:
The recent decision of CHED has brought relief for more than 2,000 Indian students who go to the Philippines every year to pursue medical education. However, at the same time, the Embassy has advised the aspirants to follow these important guidelines:
(1) Ensure that the pre-medical (Bachelor's) degree is CHED-accredited and matches the required course duration and structure
(2) The students need to ensure that they have passed the National Medical Admission Test (NMAT) before starting an M.D. Program.
(3) Students have been advised to review the most recent NMC and CHED advisories before submitting an application.
(4) The embassy has asked the students to get authentic receipts and pay tuition directly to the universities.
(5) Further, the students have been advised to get a degree and academic documents apostilled by the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs to ensure validity in India.
