The Philippines has welcomed 4,165 newly licensed physicians after the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) reported a 93.66% national passing rate in the October 2026 Physicians Licensure Examination, with several medical schools achieving perfect results.
Of the 4,447 examinees who took the examination, only 282 did not pass, making the latest results a significant achievement for the country’s medical education sector. The examination was conducted on October 3, 4, 10, and 11 at designated testing centers nationwide.
The University of Santo Tomas (UST) emerged as the leading top-performing medical school, recording a 100% passing rate among its 312 examinees. The university also produced seven individuals who placed among the examination’s topnotchers, including Maxine Francesco Gwyneth Baculo, who ranked first nationwide with a 95.50% rating.
Other medical institutions also demonstrated strong performances, with UP Manila, University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center, Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health, and West Visayas State University among the schools reporting outstanding results. Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, San Beda University, and Cebu Institute of Medicine were likewise reported to have achieved perfect passing rates.
The results highlight the academic preparation and clinical training undertaken by medical graduates before entering professional practice. Passing the licensure examination represents a major milestone following years of medical education, hospital rotations, and preparation for the national boards.
The addition of more than 4,100 physicians also represents an opportunity to strengthen the country’s healthcare workforce. However, increasing the number of licensed doctors is only part of addressing healthcare access. Their eventual placement across public hospitals, provincial facilities, and underserved communities will help determine how broadly Filipinos benefit from the new batch of medical professionals.
For the successful examinees, the results mark the beginning of their professional responsibilities as physicians. For Philippine healthcare, the latest examination offers encouraging news as the country continues working toward a stronger and more accessible medical system.