The Senate on Monday passed on 22-0 vote the Medical Scholarship Act or Doktor Para Sa Bayan bill, which aims to support the education of poor but qualified students who want to be doctors.
In Senate Bill 1520, lawmakers want the government to pay tuition and other school fees, books, and allowance of qualified medical students.
“This measure comes at the most opportune time as our country continues to battle against the devastating health impacts of COVID-19. This law will help the healthcare system sector to be better prepared for similar health emergencies in the future,” said Senate President Vicente Sotto III.
Sen. Joel Villanueva, the lead author of the measure, announced the need for such a bill, especially since there are only nine public medical schools in the country. He also said the Philippines belonged to countries where medical education is expensive.
“We are at war, and the doctors are the combatants. Just as we train soldiers in peace time, so must we train more in times of war. So, let it be now, with doctors and physicians,” said Villanueva, chairman of Senate Committee on Higher, Technical and Vocational Education.
Medical scholarship act
“Ngayon po, kahit sinong Pilipino, anuman ang antas sa buhay, kaya nang tuparin ang pangarap na maging doktor,” the senator added.
Sen. Sonny Angara said the Medical Scholarship Act would give poor students and opportunity to become doctors.
“We believe that our underprivileged but deserving students, who wish to provide for a better life for their families and to serve the country and its people as physicians, should be given the opportunity to do so. Because it is through their dedicated service that our healthcare system becomes more resilient, and gains a better chance of withstanding any pandemic,” he said.
In exchange for free medical education, medical students must first serve the country once they have graduated and obtained a professional license.
According to Sen. Ronald Dela Rosa, the Medical Scholarship Act will help to increase the number of doctors in the country, especially since six out of 10 Filipinos are said to be dying without even seeing a doctor.