The government has already allowed face-to-face classes in medical schools in areas under the modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) to ensure a sufficient number of health frontliners in the country.
Apart from schools in the MGCQ areas, colleges and universities can also conduct face-to-face classes for medical courses in areas under the GCQ as long as there is a base hospital for COVID-19 patients.
“Ito po ay para hindi tayo maubusan ng mga doktor,” said Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque on Tuesday.
Those who teach in medical schools insist that their course is really difficult if it is only thought in remote learning.
“Hindi po ninyo matutunan ang pagkabit ng dextrose, paglagay ng tubo sa ilong, kung sa libro lang, you have to do this in practice,” said Dr. Ferdinand de Guzman, who is teaching at Our Lady of Fatima University (OLFU) in Valenzuela.
Also read: Doctor in Valenzuela allegedly forges RT-PCR test results
Face-to-face classes at some medical schools now allowed
The OLFU was one of the schools that the government inspected in December to ensure that health protocols were followed when some students go back.
“May subjects kami na talagang kailangan face-to-face. For example anatomy, sa anatomy nagda-dissect kami ng patay,” said Chinese General Hospital College of Medicine Dean Normando Gonzaga.
Medical clerk Alyssa Mitra admitted that she is excited to go back to school despite the fear of COVID-19.
“Nandoon pa rin ‘yong takot but it’s overpowered somehow by the thought na I want to became a good doctor,” said Mitra.
Schools, such as OLFU, have ensured that they strictly enforce all health protocols for the safety of all.
In the OLFU survey, more than 70 percent of their students favor face-to-face classes.
However, OLFU President Caroline Enriquez said they will not oblige the student if he chooses to stay in online classes during the pandemic.
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