MANILA, Philippines — The Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) College of Medicine has now launched a six-year doctor of medicine program to fast-track their pathway to becoming medical professionals. 

The Enhanced Medicine Program (EMed) will launch in the 2025-2026 academic year.  

“PLM College of Medicine launched the Enhanced Medicine Program (EMed), a six-year accelerated program designed to fast-track aspiring medical students’ pathway to becoming medical professionals for AY 2025-2026,” the Pamantasan said in a report.  

The program will admit a maximum of 40 students and provide a streamlined pathway by granting a baccalaureate degree upon completing the second year.  

Applications will be open to incoming freshmen who meet specific requirements, including being natural-born Filipino, senior high school graduates with a General Weighted Average (GWA) of 90 percent or higher (preferably from the STEM strand), and PLMAT scores of at least 90 percent. 

Qualified candidates must also pass an entrance interview and sign a Return of Service Agreement, it said. 

PLM now joins other universities including University of the Philippines, University of Santo Tomas, and De La Salle University in offering an accelerated medicine program.

A 2022 study from the University of the Philippines Center for Integrative and Development showed that the Philippines faces a critical shortage of practicing medical doctors, falling significantly below the standard ratio of 1.1 doctors per 1,000 population.

The shortage of healthcare workers in the Philippines poses a “major roadblock” to achieving the goal of making Filipinos among the healthiest people in Asia by 2040, according to a Department of Health (DOH) official in 2024.

Dr. Adriel Pizarra from the DOH said the government has many programs aimed at achieving its long-term goals, but a lack of nurses, doctors, and other healthcare workers hinders their implementation.