Physician Licensure Examination in Sept gets IATF nod

The IATF-EID Resolution 58, which was approved on Thursday but was made public on Friday, directs concerned agencies to render full assistance for the “safe and successful” conduct of the examination. (Pixabay photo)

MANILA – Despite the threat posed by the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) has agreed to allow the resumption of the Physician Licensure Examination (PLE) in September, Malacañang announced on Friday.

In a meeting held Thursday, members of the IATF-EID gave their nod to the request to hold the PLE this coming September 20 and 21, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a press statement.

“The examination, which is Part II of the testing activities for the March 2020 Physician Licensure Examination, is tentatively scheduled on September 20 and 21, 2020,” said Roque, who is also IATF-EID spokesperson.

He said strict protocols set by the Department of Health (DOH) should be observed when the PLE resumes.

The IATF-EID Resolution 58, which was approved on Thursday but was made public on Friday, directs concerned agencies to render full assistance for the “safe and successful” conduct of the examination.

Senator Francis Tolentino earlier noted that about 1,524 new medicine graduates have already taken the first two parts of the PLE scheduled last March 8, 9, 15, and 16.

The Professional Regulation Commission, however, postponed on March 11 the examination set on March 15 and 16 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The resumption of the PLE in September came amid the demand for more doctors and nurses to boost the government’s fight against Covid-19.

DOH Assistant Secretary Kenneth Ronquillo, head of the IATF Secretariat, said the country needs about 13,949 doctors and nurses to combat Covid-19, specifically 4,430 doctors, and 9,515 nurses.

As of Thursday, the Philippines has logged 74,390 cases, with 24,383 recoveries and 1,871 deaths.