The Asian Medical Students’ Association – Philippines (AMSA-Philippines), in partnership with AMSA-UST, successfully held its first face-to-face National General Assembly since the pandemic on January 25, 2025, at the St. Martin de Porres Building, University of Santo Tomas (UST). This milestone event, themed “GACHA 2025: Unboxing Health for All,” gathered medical students from across the country to engage in discussions and activities focused on Universal Health Care (UHC).
With over 100 attendees representing 23 Member Organizations, the assembly served as a platform to reconnect, collaborate, and reinforce AMSA-Philippines’ commitment to medical student empowerment and health advocacy. The event featured the introduction of the 2025 Executive Board, capacity-building sessions, and parallel discussions that highlighted the role of future physicians in advancing UHC in the country.
Throughout the day, delegates participated in expert-led talks, interactive workshops, and discussions designed to enhance their understanding of UHC and equip them with the necessary tools to advocate for accessible and equitable healthcare. The event also fostered meaningful connections among medical students, strengthening AMSA-Philippines’ network of future healthcare leaders.
As the sole representative of the Philippines to the International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations (IFMSA) and the Asian Medical Students’ Association – International (AMSA-I), AMSA-Philippines continues to uphold its mission of empowering medical students through education, advocacy, and international collaboration.
With the success of GACHA 2025, AMSA-Philippines reaffirms its dedication to uniting future physicians in shaping a healthcare system that truly serves all. This assembly marks the beginning of another year of impactful initiatives, and AMSA-Philippines looks forward to more engagements that will inspire and empower the next generation of healthcare professionals.
This event wouldn’t have been possible without the collaboration of all our partners. GACHA 2025 was proudly hosted by AMSA-UST, co-presented by RxReviewers, PT Flashcards, Body Essence Boutique Spa, and ZUS Coffee, and held in partnership with WhenInManila.com and Monster RX93.1. We also collaborated with AMSA-DASIG and received further support from Sanggawad BUCM, AMSA – Accentuating Lives through Service and Advocacy, Asian Medical Students’ Association FEU NRMF, UP Medical Students for Social Responsibility, and AMSA-UNP.
A special thanks to AMSA-UERM, SLU Future Physicians for Health and Human Rights, AMSA-JONELTA, AMSA – Student Advocates for Public Health and Environment, AMSA-WVSU, and AMSA-ISA for their invaluable contributions in making this event a success.
