JOSE Maria College (JMC) officially unveiled its newest program, the Doctor of Medicine, which will be aligned to the Universal Healthcare (UHC) Law.

The program, formally called as Jose Maria College of Medicine Foundation (JMCMF), will be the third newest school of medicine in Davao Region. It had a formal launching on Saturday, May 18, at the Marco Polo Hotel.

JMC founding president Apollo Quiboloy said he decided to put up a medical school to address the lack of skilled medical professionals in Mindanao.

"In the medical field, I envision a world-class education that would be practical and responsive to the needs of our fast-changing society, and be at par with the world's most technologically advanced health care facilities," Quiboloy said.

He also said he might put up a hospital in the future to further provide an access for medical treatment.

"We will. The plans are already there, even the drawings are already there in the College of Medicine," Quiboloy said.

JMCMF dean Dr. Aurelio Naraval said the school's curriculum will be aligned with the Universal Healthcare Law since health care will now be made more accessible.

"Since it will be a game changing reform in the health system, our curriculum would respond to this in a way that population-based medicine would be a critical base on a curriculum, making sure that we are aligning and our medical students even in first year are already exposed in public health centers and facilities," Naraval said.

Commission on Higher Education (Ched) chairman Prospero de Vera III hopes the new approved course will create a breakthrough in the field of medicine, particularly in addressing the primary health care issue especially in Mindanao.

"Please show the whole world that in this part of the country, a new niche in the medical field, in order to correct the historical injustices in Mindanao. It is in Mindanao wherein the new direction in medicine will take place," de Vera said.

The commissioner said the approval of JMC's request was long overdue.

De Vera also wants to approve more medical courses in state universities and colleges, wherein aspiring medical professionals could avail with the Free Tuition Law.