\
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHIILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
S. No. 
8 3  0
^\Rte
of ibr iw trftat?
P4:0(9
Introduced by Senator Ralph G. Recto
RECc.V
AN ACT
CREATING 
THE 
PHILIPPINE 
MEDICAL 
ACADEMY, 
ESTABLISHING 
THE 
PHILIPPINE 
MEDICAL 
SCHOLARSHIP 
PROGRAM 
AND 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Section 12, Article XII (Social Justice and Human Rights) of the Constitution 
provides that: The State shall establish and maintain an effective food and drug 
regulatory system and undertake appropriate health manpower development and 
research, responsive to the country's health needs and problems.
Various health advocate organizations claim that hospitals in rural areas in 
Visayas and Mindanao face a crisis and even imminent closure because of the lack of 
doctors. Even prestigious medical institutions find it difficult to attract fresh 
graduates to fill up slots for doctors. The government has acknowledged the reality 
that, indeed, the country is facing an alarming shortage of medical doctors and other 
medical professionals.
The prohibitive cost of medical studies has become beyond the reach of 
Filipino families even of those belonging to the upper middle class. In the past few 
years, the situation has been aggravated by doctors taking up nursing and leaving 
the country for more lucrative jobs abroad.


Since medical doctors constitute the core of a country's public health service 
system, the shortage of doctors severely prejudices the capacity of the government 
to deliver timely, adequate, competent and affordable medical and health care 
services to our people. This affects especially the poor who need such services but 
can hardly afford them.
Thus, there is an urgent need to create a steadily expanding pool of medical 
doctors to strengthen the core of our public health service system. This should be 
done through institutional mechanisms and programs that will enable a greater 
number of qualified and public-service oriented young people to pursue medical 
education, while at the same time, effectively integrating them into the public health 
service system. In such manner, their talents would be harnessed within an optimum 
time for the benefit of our country and people.
This bill seeks to address that need by creating a Philippine Medical Academy 
and establishing a Philippine Medical Scholarship and Service Program.
The Academy shall provide the institutional mechanism for the envisioned 
sustained human resource development for the Philippine public health care system. 
The scholarship program shall provide the financial and other educational resource 
support mechanisms for the pursuit of studies in the field of medicine by deserving 
and qualified young people. The University of the Philippines, through its College of 
Medicine, shall serve as the institutional core or principal medical educational 
institution where grantees or scholars of the program shall pursue their medical 
training and studies. Other colleges and universities nationwide shall be accredited 
to serve as adjunct medical educational institutions to provide medical training to 
scholars.
The government shall provide the physical, technical and financial resources 
to equip, man, and develop the U.P. College of Medicine as the institutional core of 
the Philippine Medical Academy. It shall also provide funds to pay for all the


necessary expenses such as tuition, matriculation and all other school fees, 
prescribed textbooks and other educational supplies and equipments, board and 
lodging expenses, clothing and uniform allowances, traveling expenses and other 
related miscellaneous living allowances of qualified entrants to the Philippine Medical 
Academy and recipients of the scholarship program.
It is envisioned that a scholar shall undergo higher post-graduate internship 
in a public health and medical institution which shall be considered as part of the 
mandatory public service. Upon passing the medical board examination, the scholar 
shall commence integration into the public health service system and shall 
accordingly be given the appropriate rank and salary. Such integration into the 
public service system shall be required for a period equivalent to at least one (1) 
year for each year of scholarship benefits received.
The Academy, the Scholarship and Service programs shall be administered by 
a Board empowered to formulate and implement policies, rules and regulations, and 
all such other activities for the effective management and development of the 
programs.
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly
sought.
//m ksbc


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHIILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S. No. 
8 3 0
W! fol
jyU'-390 PR14T09
Introduced by Senator Ralph G. Rectdt^ ^ fvVk^ 'J'>' :-
AN ACT
CREATING 
THE 
PHILIPPINE 
MEDICAL 
ACADEMY, 
ESTABLISHING 
THE 
PHILIPPINE 
MEDICAL 
SCHOLARSHIP 
PROGRAM 
AND 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and House o f Representatives o f the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. Short Title. -  This Act shall be known as the "Philippine Medical
2 
Academy and Scholarship Act'.
3 
Sec. 2. Declaration o f Policy. -  It is the policy of the State to undertake health
4 
manpower development responsive to the country's health service needs. Towards
5 
this end, the State shall establish mechanisms inclusive of creating educational
6 
institutions and scholarship programs to enable deserving and qualified individuals to
7 
pursue education and training in the field of medicine, and shall formulate and
8 
implement such policies and programs to systematically integrate these individuals,
9 
upon qualifying as doctors of medicine, into the public health care system.
10 
Sec. 3. The Philippine Medical Academy. -  There shall be established a
11 
Philippine 
Medical 
Academy (PMA) which 
shall 
be the primary educational
12 
institutional mechanism for the sustained human resource development for the
13 
Philippine Public Health Care System, The government, on its own and, when
14 
feasible, in partnership with other lawful entities in the public and private sectors,
15 
shall provide and undertake measures to generate the necessary financial, technical,
16 
physical and other resources needed to efficiently and effectively man, equip,
17 
manage and develop the University of the Philippines - College of Medicine as the
18 
institutional Core of the Philippine Medical Academy. Other colleges and universities
19 
upon fulfillm ent of prescribed conditions may be accredited and integrated into the


1 
Philippine Medical Academy as adjunct educational institutions that will provide
2 
training and education in the field of medicine to qualified entrants to the Philippine
3 
Medical Academy.
4 
Sec. 4. Philippine Medical Academy Scholarship Board (PMASB). -  There is
5 
hereby created a Philippine Medical Academy and Scholarship Board (PMASB) which
6 
shall administer the Philippine Medical Academy, the Scholarship and Service
7 
Program and shall be empowered to formulate, consolidate, integrate, systematize
8 
and implement all policies, rules and regulations and programs related thereto and
9 
intended to enhance the effectiveness thereof.
10 
The PMASB shall be composed of the Chairperson of the Commission on
11 
Higher Education as chairperson of the Board; and as members: the Secretary of
12 
Education, the Secretary of Health, the Secretary of Budget and Management, the
13 
President of the University of the Philippines System, The Dean of the College of
14 
Medicine of the University of the Philippines, the Executive Director of the PMASB
15 
Secretariat, and the Chairpersons of the Committees on Health and Higher Education
16 
of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The members of the PMASB shall
17 
be entitled to reasonable amounts of per diems, representation, travel and
18 
transportation allowances.
19 
Sec. 5. Functions o f the Board. -  The PMASB shall have the following
20 
functions:
21 
a. Determine, formulate and promulgate the appropriate policies, measures,
22 
rules and regulations necessary to operate, manage, maintain, and
23 
enhance the effectiveness of the PMA and the scholarship and services
24 
programs integral to its operations;
25 
b. Establish cooperative and coordinative linkages with other educational and
26 
related institutions in the public and private sectors to ensure the effective
27 
operation, management and development of the PMA and the scholarship
28 
and services programs;
29 
c. Approve the accreditation of medical colleges and universities who will be
30 
adjunct educational institutions and who in addition to the University of


1 
the Philippines - Philippine General Hospital will accept medical scholars to
2 
their respective institutions;
3 
d. Prescribe such tests, standards and criteria for the selection of medical
4 
scholars; and the relevant and appropriate terms and conditions governing
5 
the scholarship grants and the integration of qualified medical scholars
6 
into the public health service system;
7 
e. Determine the various expenses to be covered by the scholarship, and
8 
approve the schedule of payments thereof to medical scholars from such
9 
sums appropriated by law and other funds available for the purpose;
10 
f. 
Design the staffing pattern, salaries and other compensation of officials
11 
and 
personnel of the Secretariat subject to the approval 
of the
12 
Department of Budget and Management and in accordance with the Salary
13 
Standardization Law;
14 
g. Conduct regular meetings as often as may be decided by the Board and
15 
special meetings when necessary as may be called by the Chairman of the
16 
Board; and
17 
h. Perform such other duties and functions as may be assigned by the
18 
President of the Philippines.
19 
Sec. 6. Secretariat -  There shall be a Secretariat to provide administrative
20 
and technical assistance to the PMASB. It shall be headed by an Executive Director
21 
who shall perform duties and responsibilities as may be determined and delegated
22 
by the PMASB. The support staff of the Secretariat shall be recruited preferably from
23 
qualified professionals from the academe and medical profession.
24 
Sec. 7. Medical Scholarship. -  There shall be an annual selection through
25 
appropriate examinations and screening processes of those who shall be admitted to
26 
the Philippine Medical Academy to be known as Medical Academy Scholars. The
27 
candidates shall come from among qualified graduating students or graduates of
28 
appropriate courses in colleges and universities nationwide. The qualified and
29 
selected scholars shall be granted scholarship in a medical course and shall cover
30 
expenses for, among others, tuition, matriculation and other school fees; prescribed
31 
textbooks, supplies and equipment; board and lodging expenses; clothing and


1 
uniform allowances; traveling expenses and other related miscellaneous living
2 
allowances: Provided, That at least five (5) candidates per region, or when
3 
practicable, one (1) candidate from every province and city shall be chosen to
4 
participate in the annual selection: Provided, further, That at least fifty (50) Medical
5 
Academy Scholars shall be selected annually.
6 
Sec. 8. Quaiifications o f Candidates. -  Candidates for admission into the
7 
Philippine Medical Academy and for medical scholarship grants shall possess the
8 
following minimum qualifications:
9 
a. Must belong to the top thirty per centum (30% ) of their respective
10 
graduating 
classes and 
must be completing 
or already completed
11 
undergraduate courses identified by the PMASB as a prerequisite course to
12 
the pursuit of studies in the field of medicine;
13 
b. Family and or personal incomes are not sufficient to finance their education
14 
in the field of medicine: Provided, That those who are financially capable
15 
and are willing to serve in public health and medical institutions after
16 
graduation may be accepted: Provided, further. That they do not compose
17 
more than 10 percent (10% ) of the total scholars for a particular year;
18 
c. Must be not more than twenty-five (25) years of age and a natural-born
19 
citizen of the Philippines; and
20 
d. Such other qualifications that the PMASB shall determine as necessary for
21 
the purpose.
22 
Sec. 9. General Conditions fo r Admission to the Philippine Medical Academy
23 
and fo r the Scholarship Grant. -  A medical academy scholar shall be accepted to the
24 
Academy and the programs and shall receive and continue to enjoy the benefits of
25 
the scholarship until the completion of the course, subject to the following
26 
conditions:
27 
a. The scholar shall pass the entrance/admission examinations and related
28 
requirements of PMASB and the medical school the scholar intends to enroll
29 
in;


1 
b. The scholar shall carry the full load of subjects prescribed per semester by
2 
the medical school, and shall, under no circumstance, drop a course which
3 
will result in under-loading;
4 
c. The scholar may be allowed, for valid reasons preventing his enrolment, to
5 
defer availing of the scholarship and file a leave of absence for a period not
6 
exceeding one school year;
7 
d. The scholar shall sign an agreement stating the terms and conditions of the
8 
scholarship on a form prescribed by the PMASB;
9 
e. The scholar shall repay the full cost of scholarship and related benefits
10 
received, and the scholarship shall be terminated in the event the grantee
11 
accepts another scholarship from other government or private agencies or
12 
entities; and
13 
f. The full cost of scholarship and related benefits received shall be paid by
14 
the scholar in case of failure to complete the medical course without valid
15 
cause as may be determined by the PMASB: Provided, That, if the
16 
terminated medical scholar completes another course and qualifies as an
17 
allied medical service practitioner, the scholar may choose, instead of
18 
repayment of scholarship costs, to render public service and be integrated
19 
into the public health and medical service system.
20 
Sec. 10. Medical Service Program. -  The scholar shall, pursuant to the
21 
agreement provided in Section 9 hereof, render services and be integrated into the
22 
public health and medical service system as medical doctor, with the appropriate
23 
rank and salary upon passing the medical board examination: Provided, That such
24 
service and integration in the public service shall be mandatory for a period
25 
equivalent to at least one (1) year for every year of scholarship availed: Provided,
26 
further, That the scholar when he obtains a very satisfactory performance rating,
27 
shall be entitled to salary step increases for at least every two (2) years in the
28 
service: Provided, finally. That the scholar shall undertake post graduate internship
29 
in a public health or medical institution that shall ensure his acceptance and such
30 
internship shall be part of the mandatory service and integration into the public
31 
health and medical service system.
5


1 
Sec. 11. Appropriation. -  The amount necessary to implement this Act shall
2 
be included in the subsequent annual General Appropriations Act.
3 
Sec. 12. 
Donations, Grants, etc. -  The PMASB may accept donations,
4 
legacies, grants, and other contributions to form part of the Medical Scholarship
5 
Fund: Provided, That such donations, legacies, grants, and other contributions shall
6 
be exempt from taxation and shall be allowable deductions for income tax purposes.
7 
Proceeds from at least two (2) draws of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes per year
8 
shall also be allocated to finance the PMA, the Scholarship and the Services
9 
Programs.
10 
Sec. 13. Implementing Rules and Regulations. -  Within ninety (90) days after
11 
the effectivity of this Act, the Commission on Higher Education, the Department of
12 
Health, the Department of Budget and Management, the University of the Philippines
13 
System, and other government agencies concerned shall promulgate the necessary
14 
rules and regulations for the proper implementation of this Act.
15 
Sec. 14. Separability Clause. -  If, for any reason, any provision of this Act or
16 
any part thereof shall be held unconstitutional and invalid, the other parts or
17 
provisions of this Act, which are not affected thereby, shall remain in full force and
18 
effect.
19 
Sec. 
15. Repeating Cause. -  All laws, decrees, resolutions, orders or
20 
ordinances or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act, are hereby repealed, amended
21 
or modified accordingly.
22 
Sec. 16. Effectivity. -  This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
23 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation or in the Official
24 
Gazette.
Approved,