By Daniel P. Tapaoan, Jr. 

Achieving hundred percent passing rates in physician licensure examinations, the Mariano Marcos State University - College of Medicine (MMSU-COM) will soon have a world-class medical training facility and equipment with a funding from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). 

CHED Chairperson J. Prospero E. De Vera III has approved a Php 24.8 million fund for the college to establish its Medical Simulation Center (MSC), which will be housed at the Php 75-million COM complex initiated by Senator Pia Cayetano. 

Dr. Ricardo S. Guanzon, former COM dean and project leader of the proposed facility, said once the MSC is established, the college will be able to conduct simulation and modeling, healthcare, and training activities for both medical and undergraduate health sciences students and faculty. 

Guanzon added the facility will also cater to other non-MMSU medical personnel who will undergo training in public health, particularly those under the Doctors to the Barrios program of the Department of Health.

Aside from building the facility, the university will also purchase various simulation equipment, including a maternal fetal birthing simulator, ventilator, student auscultation simulator, anatomical viewer, blood pressure arm simulator, medical debriefing equipment with all-in-one hub, male catheterization simulator with female genitalia, intravenous insertion arm simulator, electric gynecological table, electric hospital bed, defibrillation trainer, and airway management simulator with tablet computer. 

MMSU President Shirley C. Agrupis thanked CHED for approving the proposed fund allocation, saying the support will surely enable the medical school in developing the competencies of its future professionals, and that this will redound to improved public health services. 

Simulation is the only means of actual training for critical care events without risking the patients. It has been proven invaluable for team training, honing critical thinking skills, and inter-professional communication and collaboration which are crucial in the medical profession. 

“These efforts to upgrade our facilities further heighten our commitment to improving the delivery of medical education in this part of the country, and the overall quality of life,” expressed Dr. Policarpio B. Joves, Jr., the new COM dean.

Anent this, the university is also increasing the carrying capacity of COM with adequate funds from the national government. An amount of Php 82 million was included in the University’s budget in the 2021 General Appropriations Act through the initiative of Sen. Sonny Angara, Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance. 

MMSU is one of only nine state universities and colleges in the country that offer a medical degree. (HLY/JVBT, StratCom)