More than P1 billion has been allocated to establish additional medical schools in state universities and colleges (SUCs) in an effort to produce more physicians in the face of a persistent shortage of healthcare professionals in the country.

The amount, according to Quezon City Rep. Marvin Rillo, vice chairperson of the House committee on higher and technical education, is the accumulation of funds allotted by Congress since 2021 for the development of new colleges of medicine in SUCs, with an additional P150 million in this year’s budget.

“The seed money will support the new schools of medicine in our SUCs, helping them develop their capacity to provide instruction, acquire teaching materials, upgrade libraries, and build advanced laboratory facilities,” Rillo said.

He emphasized that “Congress is committed to fully developing our new schools of medicine in SUCs to enable the country to train and produce more physicians.”

Although the Philippines is dubbed one of the top suppliers of physicians and nurses globally, the country has been facing a deficit of healthcare professionals due to, among others, low salaries and poor working conditions — l eaving local hospitals short-staffed.

As of 2024, the Philippines is facing a shortage of 190,000 medical professionals, which would take 12 to 23 years to address for both nurses and doctors, respectively.