The adjustment factors: Its validity on the admissions process of the University of the Philippines College of Medicine (UPCM)

Background@#With the purpose of ensuring fairness and a level playing field in the selection process, the new admissions policy of the University of the Philippines College of Medicine (UPCM) has applied adjustment factors (AF) in the computation of the general weighted averages (GWAs) of applicants. @*Objective@#The objective of the study was to the determine the validity of adjustment factors in ensuring fairness in recalibrating GWAs of applicants for admissions. @*Methods@#This study described the mean AF scores of the different pre-medical courses of lateral entrants as well as their historic academic performance such as the mean university predicted grades (UPG), UP College Admissions Test scores (UPCAT) and high school weighted averages (HSWA), National Medical Admissions Test (NMAT) scores, pre-medical general weighted average grades (PMGWAG) and Learning Unit 3 Medicine general weighted average grades (LU3 MGWAG). Correlative analysis was done using Pearson’s correlation between the mean AF scores of the different pre-medical courses and their mean UPG, UPCAT and HSWA and LU3 MGWAG. @*Results@#The study showed that pre-medical courses from UP Manila obtained higher mean AF scores, while those from UP Diliman had better scholastic performance with higher mean UPG, UPCAT HSWA, NMAT, PMGWAG and LU3 MGWAG. Those who obtained a high score in the adjustment factors, namely BS Computer Science in UPM and BS Applied Physics in UPM, ranked lowest in the mean UPG, UPCAT, HSWA and low in NMAT, PMGWAG and LU3 MGWAG. The reverse was also true as those courses that ranked high in the mean UPG, UPCAT and HSWA, namely BS Molecular Biology and Biotechnology UPD, BS Psychology UPD and BS Biology UPD, acquired relatively low mean AF scores. Within statistical significance, inverse correlation was established between mean AF scores of the different pre-medical courses and mean UPG and UPCAT scores. @*Conclusion@#The study invalidated the use of AFs in the admissions process of UPCM. The AF did not guarantee fairness in the selection process, as it merely lowered down the GWAs of those who performed academically well in pre-medical courses. The current formula for the computation of AF is grounded on faulty assumption that high GWAs were all due to grade inflation. It is therefore recommended that implementation of the AF be immediately held in abeyance until its validity issues are resolved.

The initial impact of the University of the Philippines College of Medicine new admissions policy: Four years of implementation

Background@#The University of the Philippines College of Medicine (UPCM) revised its admissions policy with the goal of leveling the playing field in the selection of students and ensuring the admission of applicants imbued with the dedication and commitment to serve. @*Objective@#The objective of the study was to determine the initial impact of the newly amended policy on the admissions demographics and academic profile of accepted UPCM students in terms of pre-med courses and colleges, admissions category, Latin honors, pre-med General Weighted Average Grade (GWAG), National Medical Admission Test (NMAT) score, and interview scores, during the four years of its implementation.@*Methodology@#This descriptive study compared the yearly applications and admissions, annual distributions of pre-med courses, colleges graduated from, admissions category, Latin honors, and yearly averages of premed GWAG, NMATs, and interview scores among the accepted UPCM students and determined the trend of the aforementioned variables, from four years prior to four years after the implementation of the new admissions policy (2013 to 2020).@*Results@#Four years of the implementation of the revised admissions policy observed a reduction in the number of applications but an increase in the overall admissions, ratio reversal of admissions between UP Diliman graduates and UP Manila graduates with the latter recently dominating the admissions, a drastic fall in the admissions of BS Psychology graduates, while a steady rise in the admissions of BS Public Health and BS Pharmacy graduates. Also observed was the significant decrease in the yearly average GWAG, NMATs, and Latin honors among accepted UPCM students. The yearly average interview scores increased while the profile based on admissions category remained generally unchanged. @*Conclusion@#These significant changes and impacts were mainly attributed to the adoption and utilization of the Adjustment Factor in the computation of the GWAG.

Private medical institutions in China:Policy review and analysis / 中国卫生政策研究

The evolution of China’s policy on private medical institutions has been ongoing, and a comprehen-sive policy system has been established. In this paper, we review the development history and summarize the main policy points in terms of planning, approval, financial input, supervision and administration, support and incentives. We analyze current policy barriers from three levels:1 ) policy ideas, consensus on the function and role of private medical institutions have not reached, which may influence the corresponding policy making and implementation;(2) policy design, multiple policy bottlenecks still exist, such as lack of flexibility, poor convergence, vague stand-ards and other aspects; 3 ) policy implementation, the health planning polices and equal treatment polices haven’t been carried out, and there are many hidden obstacles. To solve these problems, we recommend that further attention be paid to the importance of private medical institutions;the running mode should be chosen properly; the develop-ment space should be expanded;the classified management policy should be improved; and the supervision and ex-amination of policy implementation on local governments should be intensified.