Commission on Higher Education Chairperson J. Prospero De Vera III (PNA file photo)
MANILA – The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) clarified on Tuesday that the Bulacan State University’s (BulSU) application for a Doctor of Medicine program is still under evaluation.
In a statement, CHED Chairperson J. Prospero de Vera III corrected a published report claiming the BulSU's acceptance of Doctor of Medicine program students for the first semester.
"The Commission wishes to inform the public that BulSU has no CHED-approved Doctor of Medicine program and cannot accept students this 1st semester of 2023-2024," he said.
De Vera reiterated that such program may not operate without a go signal from the CHED considering the need to pass the curriculum, faculty, facility and training hospital requisitions, among others.
"The approval and issuance of the Government Authority to operate higher education programs such as Doctor of Medicine is incumbent upon the authority of the Commission en banc, hence, HEIs (higher education institutions) shall not be allowed to admit students without prior approval and authority granted by the Commission," he said.
The BulSU also released a statement on Monday to "dispel undue confusion" following the report.
"The university wishes to correct the inaccurate information stating the University has already begun accepting students of the Doctor of Medicine program this first semester of 2023-2024. To reiterate, the university will accept students only after its application for a license to operate has been secured from the Commission on Higher Education," it said in its official Facebook post.
Last June 19, the university underwent CHED inspection and was given until July 31 to work on noted deficiencies.
The BulSU's documentary compliance submitted on its extended deadline last Aug. 11 is now subjected to the CHED's Technical Panel for Medicine for assessment and recommendation. (PNA)
