Philippines the most preferred destination for MBBS education since last decade and the craze is increasing year by year. The reasons for the continuous Indian medical aspirants flow to Philippines can be considered as the various attractions available for the globally recognized MBBS education of the country.
Global Recognition
Every year more than 10,000 foreign students are migrating to Philippines to study Medicine from all over the World and more than 60% of them are from India. The Medical curriculum in Philippines and the world wide recognitions for the same from MCI, WHO, FAIMER, WFME, USMLE, AMC, LCME, KIMEE, NCEQE, CAA, and so are the major reasons for the rush to Philippines for medical study.
PG Entrance Eligibility
The medical education in Philippines not only globally recognized but also the medical graduates are eligible to appear for the major and popular PG entrance examinations all over the world like: USMLE, PLAB, AMC, NEET-PG, MCQEE, TMS and many other countries.
Overview of MBBS in Philippines and India:
India follows British Medical system where medicine is of 5 ½ years MBBS course in which 4 ½ years of College study and the final year is compulsory internship in hospitals, where as in US Medical Curriculum MBBS course is divided into 5 to 6 years in which first one to two years Pre-Medicine and the next 4 years MD/ Doctor of Medicine. The final year of MD is compulsory Clerkship similar to that of internship in India and same is to be completed in Hospitals.
| Country | India | Philippines |
| Offered Degree | MBBS | BS-MD |
| Curriculum followed | BRITISH | US |
| Eligibility | 10 + 2 | 10+2 with 50% PCB marks |
| Entrance required | NEET RANK | NEET qualifying |
| Total fees | 25,000 t0 70,00,000 (based on category) | 16 to 26 lakhs |
| Course Duration | 5 ½ years | 5 to 6 years (based on college) |
| Teaching Instruction | English | English |
| Governing Body | MCI | CHED |
| Recognitions | MCI, WHO, ECFMG, WFME | CHED, MCI, WHO, ECFMG, WFME, FAIMER, and so |
| Method of examination | Subjective Mode | Objective Mode & Case study analysis based education |
| Living expenses per month | 8 to 10000 | 12,000 to 15,000 |
| Currency | Rupees | Philippine Pesos |
| Currency variation to India | 1.32 to 1.40 piece | 1 peso |
| MBBS Seats availability | 83,000 | Not limited |
Governing Body and Medical Degree
The Medical degree in Philippines is called as MD / Doctor of Medicine which follows after one to two years of Pre medicine course. Pre medicine duration varies from one year to two years to foreign medical students based on the colleges opted. Many colleges are giving only two years course and few providing with one year valid pre medicine degree. The total course is called as BS-MD program and the same is approved by MCI- Medical Council of India.
The Governing body to medical education in Philippines is CHED-Commission on Higher Education and all the degrees provided by the recognized universities are governed by this body. The same is recognized by MCI, WHO and other major agencies listed above and the medical graduates are eligible to write the PG entrances of all over the world.
Screening Test
All the medical graduates of India once completed their course from Philippines need to qualify a screening test in India for practicing medicine in India. Previously the exam is only for the foreign medical graduates but now it is for all the medical graduates from India as well as from foreign countries. Recently NMC- National Medical Commission bill is approved by the cabinet indicating that FMGE exam will be emerged into NEXT examination (National Exit Test) which will serve as a license exam to practice medicine in Indian and abroad medical graduates.
There is not much variation between the Indian and Foreign medical graduates degree, instead the students from abroad studied in objective and case study based methods are better to pass foreign PG entrances over the World.