In a press statement dated June 11, 2017 by the Commission on Higher Education or CHED it’s announced that Doctor of Medicine students studying in select State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) will enjoy free tuition.
Students studying to become doctors may now avail and enjoy full tuition subsidy through the government education program implemented by CHED named “Cash Grants to Medical Students Enrolled in State Universities and Colleges (CGMS – SUCs). The qualified students-grantees will get 100% tuition subsidy.
This is a new program introduced by the Duterte Administration. CHED and the Department of Budget Management (DBM) has already finalized the Implementing Rules and Regulation of the earmarked P317.1M student financial assistance fund allocation in the 2017 budget.
WHAT SCHOOLS ARE INCLUDED IN THIS FREE TUITION FOR MEDICINE STUDENTS?
New students and current students who will enroll for Academic Year 2017 to 2018, studying medicine in specific state universities and colleges are covered under the CGMS-SUCs program. As of now only the following institutions and their medicines students are covered:
- University of Northern Philippines
- Mariano Marcos State University
- Cagayan State University
- Bicol University
- West Visayas State University
- University of the Philippines – Leyte
- Mindanao State University
- University of the Philippines – Manila
We will be updating this post should there be newly included state universities and colleges in this list.
CHED through Commissioner and Spokesperson Prospero de Vera said that this program “is a reponse to the continuing lack of doctors in the country caused by the high cost of medical education, overseas migration, and brain drain. The Duterte administration wants to solve this problem by subsidixing the tuition of medical students and facilitating their residency and practice in the different parts of the country.”
REQUIREMENTS for MEDICINE STUDENTS TO GET THE FREE TUITION
In order for a student to qualify for the CGMS-SUCs, the following requirements must be meet:
- Pass the admission requirements of the SUC
- Enrol in authorized Doctor of Medicine programs of SUCs
- Maintain a general weighted average (GWA) of at least a passing grade
- Carry a regular academic load and complete the dgree within the period allowed in the university
In exchange of the free tuition subsidy, grantees of this program MUST render one year service in the country for every year of cash grant received through CGMS – SUCs. This is part of the Return Service System.
The Return Service System is designed to ensure that students stay and serve in the country after graduation in exchange for the public subsidy given for their education. Grantees can serve in government or private hospitals, local government health facilities, or become doctors to the barrios.
In the same press statement, it’s mentioned that anyone who has questions are encouraged to contact CHED or Commissioner De Vera.
Once this program starts to produce graduates, it is expected that the Philippines’ doctor to patient ratio in the country will improved.