Best MBBS colleges in the Philippines: Davao Medical School Foundation ranks among the Top 5

The Philippines, officially known as The Republic of The Philippines, is an archipelagic country situated in Southeast Asia. Located in the western Pacific Ocean, it is known for its exotic islands, tourist attractions, tropical fruits and scenic avenues. But over the years, The Philippines has established itself as one of the most flourishing hubs for Medical Education. With over 40 top medical colleges and 2299 educational institutions, The Philippines have been a generous contributor of world-class, quality medical education to countless students.

Every year, The Philippines, on average, produces 2220 doctors, allied healthcare professionals& nurses. With some of the best medical colleges in the world being here, The Philippines of late has attracted a lot of attention from students worldwide. And Davao Medical School Foundation lies at the heart of this development of the Philippines. And this all started way back in 1976, before which the scenario was quite different.

Before Davao Medical School Foundation:
History of Medical Education in the Philippines.

Before the establishing Davao Medical School Foundation, The Philippines lacked focused healthcare facilities. The community orientation of the Founders inspired the origination of the Davao Medical School Foundation. Subsequently, there was a sudden surge in the development of other such medical & MBBS colleges in the Philippines. Today, The Philippines is one of the world's largest producer of quality nurses. They are placed all over the globe serving communities with their life-saving skills. Medical education in the Philippines principally offers a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree, a four-year professional course.

Offering low-cost quality medical education was a pioneering pillar of the Davao Medical School Foundation. Other medical colleges in the Philippines have adopted this model of education. Like the Davao Medical School Foundation, the other colleges in the Philippines follow the American curriculum. A student-friendly course-structure with standard course duration and a lotof practical based classes.

General admission procedure for MBBS in the Philippines:

Davao Medical School Foundation has a simple and hassle-free admission procedure for all the students. Being a leading example, DMSF paved the way for other colleges to follow. Now, most of the colleges in the Philippines follow a general admission requirement.

Some of the general requirements for the students are:

• Complete 10+2 educational degree or other equivalent degrees with a minimum of 50% aggregate.
• Students must have Physics, Chemistry, Biology as compulsory subjects.
• Students also need to clear National level entrances like NEET-UG(India).

Apart from these general requirements, each medical college in the Philippines can have its respective requirements like an additional language and aptitude proficiency test like the National Medical Admission Test (NMAT).

Some of the common pre-medical degrees include biology, psychology, pharmacy, medical technology, biochemistry, microbiology, nursing, radiologic technology and physical therapy. More than 12,000 students from foreign countries opt for the Philippines. And what makes it lucrative for the students is the fact that most of these colleges are MCI & WHO recognised.

The four-year Doctor of Medicine degree in the Philippines deal with medical theories, practices,technologies, and problem-solving. The completion of the degree has to be followed on with a one-year post-graduate internship to qualify for the license to practice. Medical schools in the country are regulated by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) accredited by the Association of Philippine Medical Colleges.

Why the Philippines have become the most preferred country to study MBBS for Indian students?

When we talk of medical education in the Philippines, one of the striking features is the influx of Indian students in the Philippines. As medical education in India is very competitive, almost every 20 students compete for one medical seat. This has resulted in students looking for colleges abroad. And the Philippines over the years has become a prominent choice.

This revolution in India has been solely credited to one individual whose pioneering vision and relentless effort allowed many students to pursue their dreams. David K Pillai and his brainchild Transworld Educare Pvt Ltd in association with Davao Medical School Foundation have established the Philippines as the most preferred choice to study MBBS abroad.

David K Pillai in his earlier days, extensively travelled the world to set a medical college for the Indian students to come and study. And when Dr Pillai stumbled upon the Philippines, he identified many advantages and explained how students from India would benefit from studying MBBS in the Philippines. Some of the key aspects highlighted by David K Pillai are:

• Similar Disease Spectrum.
• No Language Barrier.
• Good Patient-to-Bed strength.
• Similar cultural trends as India.
• Extensive Hands-On Practice.
• Drug-Free Country
• Safe and Secured for students.
• Easily Accessible from India.
• MCI approved and recognised colleges.
• Dedicated Indian accommodation & mess.

Let us have a look at the Top 5 MBBS colleges in the Philippines.

Top 5 MBBS Colleges in the Philippines:

Known for the state of the art infrastructure, latest technologies like Simulated Mannequins, 3D Anatomage and extra emphasis on FMGE, Davao Medical School Foundation is one of the largest and the best MBBS colleges in the Philippines. With 10000+ students studying from all different specializations, DMSF has been emblematic of success. Extra emphasis on FMGE and association with Transworld Educare Pvt Ltd benefitted Davao MedicalSchool Foundation tremendously. A total of 5 years 4 months course, Davao Medical School Foundation is the best college for MBBS.

The Emilio Aguinaldo Col lege School of Medicine was founded and established by Dr Paulo C. Campos, a National Scientist in Nuclear Medicine. It was formally opened on July 23, 2001, with24 enrollees. Dr Salvador R. Salceda, an ophthalmologist, became the first Dean (2001-2003), followed by a gastroenterologist, Dr Esteban P. Pineda (2003-2010), and a surgical oncologist, Dr Conrado C. Cajucom (2010-2013). The fourth and present Dean is Dr Asuncion L. Abaya-Morido, a general surgeon and the former Hospital Director of Medical Center Manila, now known as the Manila Med.

Our founder envisioned the School of Medicine to be an outstanding institution for medical education and health research. As such, the School shall provide education and a scientific environment that prepares the students to become professionally competent, socially-relevant and compassionate physicians with a strong commitment to lifelong learning. It is also committed to undertake relevant reforms on medical education in response to changing nationaland global health needs and scenarios, as well as newly generated medical information.

The School of Medicine is staffed by dedicated, respected and competent academicians, as wellas clinicians who are well-known in their fields of speciality. It implements an outcome-based, synchronized curriculum, with early clinical integration and emphasis on an interactive learning process. It also boasts well-equipped classrooms, basic science and skills laboratories and a library.

In the past, classrooms, laboratory facilities and offices were all confined on the 9th floor of Building 7, and Building 5. But due to the growing population of both medical students and faculty members, expansion to the EAC Building 7, 10th floor became necessary.

The Manila Med, School of Medicine’s base teaching and training hospital, is a tertiary training institution accredited by the Department of Health, an ISO9011: 2008 certified institution since 2011, and PhilHealth accredited Center of Excellence in 2010; a rare distinction among tertiary private and government hospitals in the Philippines. It is competently manned by active and visiting consultants, who are well-respected in their various fields of expertise and committed to teaching both the students and resident trainees during bed-side rounds and conferences Also, the School of Medicine is also affiliated with other teaching and training hospitals like the University of the Philippines – Philippine General Hospital (UP – PGH), Ospital ng Maynila Medical Center (OMMC), and the corporate-owned Emilio Aguinaldo College Medical Center – Cavite, which is strategically located in Dasmariñas, Cavite and that is best suited for community health-oriented programs. Community rotations in Pasay City, Metro Manila and selected government units in Cavite, through the Department of Family and Community Medicine, are also included to provide the students with better exposure and learning experience to caring for the marginalized sectors of our society.

With its commitment to the ideals of love, leadership and service, and development of need breed of leaders, who are morally upright and spiritually inspired, the Gullas College of Medicineoperates and maintains educational programs which are nationalistic and democratic, and attuned to nationally and internationally accepted standards. While it nurtures academic excellence, it also works for the enhancement of high-level professions and middle-level careersrelevant to community development and the socio-economic needs of the country.

It is a major commercial and Financial Centre in the North of the Philippines. It is a very quiet and lush green city with an excellent average temperature between 22 to 32 deg C round the year. It provides an excellent academic environment for the students. Dagupan has 12 hospitalswith the largest one having more than 600-bed space.

Lyceum Northwestern University is about 230 km from Manila International Airport and very wellconnected with Manila by 6 lane Highway and with fast neat and clean AC bus connectivity in every 30 Minutes, and takes approximately Hours 40 minutes travel time from Airport via ( N Luzon W Expy/R-8 and N Luzon Expy/R-8).

Lyceum Northwestern University started as a nursing school and gradually developed into a full-grown independent university. The medical college is very well known and emphasize balanced academic and social competencies and team spirit. LNU has a clear vision to be the Regional Center for Excellence in Medical Education by the year 2021.

Lyceum Northwestern University has a modern campus with more than 7000 students community studying in various faculties Including over 1800 foreign students that include more than 250 Indian Medical students. It offers safe and secure affordable housing and messes in itsmodern hostel building. Also, it has on-campus sports and recreational facility. It has a separate Indian Food mess.

Lyceum Northwestern University (LNU) College of medicine is listed in the WHO Directory of Medical Universities and its Medico Educational Council for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) and MCI.

Lyceum Northwestern University is listed in IMED Directory. Students can appear for USMLE part 1 & 2 in the Philippines during their study.

Southwestern University in the Philippines a school renowned for game changers, with aserious and driven learning attitude. Southwestern University Philippines serves as the dream destination for most Indian medical aspirants to study MBBS in the Philippines. Every year hundreds of foreign students are admitting into the MBBS program of this world-class university,to equip themselves with the proper experience of designing their future Doctor Career.

SWU established in 1951 in the Philippines proudly as the first medical school outside Manila the capital city of the Philippines. SWU School of medicine has its longstanding reputation for itsoutstanding educational standards and training techniques of young physicians from various parts of the world.

SWU is located in the beautiful, livable, and festive city of Cebu, crowned as the queen city of South Philippines. Southwestern University Philippines is teeming with life and excitement, with the diversity of student population hailing from all over the world including India, Africa, America,Maldives, Malaysia and so making it an internationally competitive, transformative and welcoming institution of higher education.