With the dichotomy constantly increasing between the number of medical aspirants and number of seats in India (for the bad!), the number of people moving abroad for higher medical education is also increasing. In such a case, it often becomes confusing for aspirants to choose the university/country. This post seeks to make the case for the one that is MBBS in Philippines.
Particularly, the aim of this post is to highlight 2 of the most sought-after and trustworthy universities in The Philippines. One of them is often considered by many as the face of medical education in The Philippines, the AMA School of Medicine.
The other university this post focuses on is the very well-known Davao Medical College Philippines.
This post will particularly highlight the quality of learning overall, that the students shall be exposed to.
AMA School of Medicine (AMASOM)
Coming under the overall AMA Education System (AMAES), this medical university located at the heart of Makati City is one of the most trusted institutions in the country. The primary reason for this is the focus on developing and honing the clinical and practical skills of the student along with strengthening their theoretical concepts.
Practical Education
Lab work is paramount for ensuring that students get enough exposure and hands-on training with the most common medical equipment. The lab features in the AMA School of Medicine include: –
1. Histology
2. Gross Anatomy
3. Microbiology
4. Parasitology
5. Pathology
From real life-like simulations to performing dissections of cadavers. During the last years of the course or even after it, students enrolled in this university can also take part in internships/clerkships with the government hospitals and private health centres.
Theoretical Education
What helps the AMA School of Medicine to stand apart from its competition is the unique models of medical education adopted by it. Some of the most important developments have been mentioned below: –
1. Innovative Case-based Curriculum: This involves encouraging the students to indulge primarily in case studies and learn from that process. What this does is that it ensures the continuity of the habit of learning. Students become life-long learners (that too self-directed, thanks to case studies!) that are helpful even in the field, professionally.
2. Hybrid Curriculum: This mainly focuses on the “basic sciences” aspect of the medical programme. The theoretical aspects of this discipline are coupled with the case-based data to create a module that can be retained by the individual for a long time.
3. Vertical Integration: Under this, students’ side-by-side learn their concepts in class as well as are made to solve problems and learn through doubts and the resulting self-learning as well.
4. Problem-based Learning (PBL): This correlates various activities like lectures, case studies, lab work, discussions, assessments, tutorials, and other activities.
Looking at all the 4 years of MD here, students are taught clinical skills, critical thinking and reasoning, as well as the ethical and legal aspects of medicine and epidemiology. The module based learning (blocks) offers a systematic approach towards the classes as well.
This degree is approved by the NMC/MCI and, therefore, students passing out from here are also eligible for the Indian licentiate exam i.e. the FMGE Exam, which will soon be the NEXT Exam.
Davao Medical College Philippines
For more than 4 decades, the Davao Medical College Philippines has perfected the “quality and affordable medical education” trope, thanks to the state-of-the-art and modern infrastructure of the classrooms as well as the laboratories.
Talking of the laboratories, the following are the facilities that students pursuing MBBS in Philippines here can access: –
1. Simulation Lab: Primarily, students can access the various manikins and equipment as well as the real life-like simulation rooms. Thus, students get hands-on training in developing and honing the skills to perform effectively in the field. Additionally, they also learn the communication and social tools necessary.
2.Cadaver Dissection Lab: Here, students get to learn a lot more about the human anatomy outside of the textbooks as they personally perform dissections on cadavers. The university has a steady supply of cadavers adequate for all those who enroll here.
3. Anatomage Lab: The Davao Medical College Philippines boasts of one of, if not the most technologically advanced “Anatomy Visualization System” in all of Philippines. Such is the case that the virtual dissection apparatus is being adopted by many top medical universities worldwide. Such is the attention to detail here that can’t be delved in through cadavers.
4. Microbiology Lab: This university is one of the very few to have a fully equipped microbiology lab that offers hands-on training to the students in this very discipline. Things like the pathogen identification process and related concepts are the focus here.
Across the 1.5-year pre-med programme as well as the 4-year MD course, the university ensures that students are taught all the important disciplines like epidemiology, medicine, radiology, pharmacology, surgery, pediatrics, psychiatry, physiology, microbiology, genetics, ecology, and a lot more.
This is one of the very few MBBS in Philippines universities out there that has consistently performed well in the FMGE (Indian licentiate exam) that will soon become the NEXT Exam. This means that students enrolling here are also eligible for this exam, also thanks to the recognition by the NMC/MCI. Moreover, students can also expect USMLE coaching in this university and will, therefore, be eligible for this American licentiate exam as well.
Final Words
In simple words, what this post tries to highlight is the fact that MBBS in Philippines is one of those golden opportunities that students can access at a relatively lower cost than other destinations.
From having top-notch classroom facilities to world-class infrastructure to incorporate practical medical education, these 2 universities are particularly the most adept. Students are guaranteed WHO, FAIMER, ECFMG, and NMC/MCI-approved curriculum and pedagogy in each of these universities.
This is also assisted by a vibrant and enriching campus life where students can play a variety of sports as well as hone their skills in the performing arts. All this is available at affordable overall fees of INR 22-25 Lakh, without the need to pay any capitation/donations.
MBBS in Philippines and particularly these 2 universities are extremely trusted options currently.