Nirav Prajapati

VIGAN CITY - Nirav Prajapati, a Doctor of Medicine graduate of the University of Northern Philippines in 2013, topped the June 2017 Medical Council of India Board Examination.

He scored a total of 239 out of 300 items, leading more than four thousand examinees.

"Actually to tell you the truth, I had no idea that my score will be this high because I was hoping to score good not to top but with the grace of God and my family, they helped me through," Prajapati said.

He thanked the university for providing him quality medical education, as well as training, which he said would be helpful in providing quality healthcare to his countrymen.

“I will definitely help the community," he said.

Prajapati is the second UNP graduate who ranked first in the MCI Board Examination. In 2013, another UNP graduate topped the medical board examination.

The dean of the UNP College of Medicine, Dr. Pablo Quedado, said the university has been attracting foreign students.

Last academic year, more than 400 Indian students were enrolled at the College of Medicine while more than 300 Indian students were taking up pre-medicine courses.

Starting this academic year, the university will only be admitting 200 foreign first-year medical students to accommodate more Filipino students.

UNP is one of the eight state colleges and universities (SUCs) that would be offering free tuition for Filipino medical students.