Senator Francis Escudero said the government must anticipate the increase in the population of health professionals following the enactment of seven laws meant to establish more medical schools nationwide.
Escudero thanked President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for signing the proposed measures that will further boost the medical education program in the country.
Among these measures include the Republic Act 11970 creating the Benguet State University College of Medicine, Southern Luzon State University College of Medicine (RA 11971), University of Eastern Philippines College of Medicine (RA 11972), and the Visayas State University College of Medicine (RA 11974).
While RA 11973 is pushing for the creation of Bicol University of its won College of Veterinary Medicine.
Citing data from the Department of Health, Escudero lamented the shortage of doctors in the country even before the onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic has reached at least 114,000.
Escudero expressed optimism that the medical field in the country will now improve with the recent legislation of the seven bills.
"We are now closer to our goal of offering medical courses in various parts of the country to meet the health needs of the Filipino people," Escudero said, urging the government to prepare for an expected increase in healthcare professionals.
"Even if our population increase decelerates and stabilizes at 1.5 million a year, this would still have to be matched with new entrants to the medical profession," he said
Meanwhile, Escudero also noted Marcos also signed RA 11968 and RA 11969—the San Isidro Satellite campus of the Leyte University and the Bataan Peninsula State University-Bagac Extension Campus—into regular campuses, respectively.
