Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS 21 NOV 20
Third Regular Session o:

House Bill No. 6708

Introduced by Representatives
DIOSDADO MACAPAGAL ARROYO and GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO

AN ACT
CREATING THE PHILIPPINE MEDICAL ACADEMY AND ESTABLISHING THE
PHILIPPINE MEDICAL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM AND APPROPRIATING
FUNDS THEREFOR’

EXPLANATORY NOTE

It is expressly stated in Section 12, Article XII (Social Justice and Human
Rights) of the Constitution 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.”

Reports are rife 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 cost of medical studies has become so prohibitive that it has become
beyond the reach of Filipino families even those belonging to the upper middle
class. The situation has been aggravated by doctors taking up nursing and
leaving the country for more lucrative jobs abroad.

" This is a counterpart measure to Senate Bil No. 2141 filed by the Honorable Ralph G. Recto during the First Regular
Session ofthe present 18" Congress.


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, especially the poor who direly need such
services but can hardly afford them, and whose only access to such services is
through the public health service system.

Thus, there is an urgent need to create a steadily expanding pool of
medical doctors to strengthen and expand the core of the public health service
system through institutional mechanisms and programs that will not only enable a
greater number of qualified and public-service oriented young people to pursue
medical education but also systematically and effectively ensure their integration
into the public health service system in such manner that would harness their
talents within an optimum period of 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 within which 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 two (2) years 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.

We, therefore, enjoin our colleagues to ensure this bill’s expeditious
passage into law

K

DIOSDADO MACAPAGAL ARROYO GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO
Second District, Camarines Sur Second District, Pampanga


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session

6708

House Bill No.

Introduced by Representatives
DIOSDADO MACAPAGAL ARROYO and GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO

AN ACT
CREATING THE PHILIPPINE MEDICAL ACADEMY AND ESTABLISHING THE
PHILIPPINE MEDICAL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM AND APPROPRIATING
FUNDS THEREFOR

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the
Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Philippine
Medical Academy and Scholarship Act of 2012.”

SECTION 2. Declaration of policy — It is the policy of the State to
undertake health manpower development responsive to the country’s health
service needs. Towards this end, the State shall establish mechanisms inclusive
of creating educational institutions and scholarship programs to enable deserving
and qualified individuals to pursue education and training in the field of medicine,
and shall formulate and implement such policies and programs to systematically
integrate these individuals, upon qualifying as doctors of medicine, into the public
health care system

SECTION 3. The Philippine Medical Academy. — There shall be
established a Philippine Medical Academy (PMA) which shall be the primary
educational institutional mechanism for the sustained human resource
development for the Philippine Public Health Care System. The government, on
its own and, when feasible, in partnership with other lawful entities in the public
and private sectors, shall provide and undertake measures to generate the


necessary financial, technical, physical and other resources needed to efficiently
and effectively man, equip, manage and develop the University of the Philippines
- College of Medicine as the institutional Core of the Philippine Medical Academy.
Other colleges and universities upon fulfillment of prescribed conditions may be
accredited and integrated into the Philippine Medical Academy as adjunct
educational institutions that will provide training and education in the field of
medicine to qualified entrants to the Philippine Medical Academy.

SECTION 4. Philippine Medical Academy Scholarship Board (PMASB). —
There is hereby created a Philippine Medical Academy and Scholarship Board
(PMASB) which shall administer the Philippine Medical Academy, the
Scholarship and Service Program and shall be empowered to formulate,
consolidate, integrate, systematize and implement all policies, rules and
regulations and programs related thereto and intended to enhance the
effectiveness thereof.

The PMASB shall be composed of the Chairperson of the Commission on
Higher Education as Chairman of the Board; and as members: (1) the Secretary
of Education; (2) the Secretary of Health; (3) the Secretary of Budget and
Management; (4) the President of the University of the Philippine System; (5) the
Dean of the College of Medicine of the University of the Philippines; (6) the
Executive Director of the PMASB Secretariat; and (7) the Chairpersons of the
Committees on Health and Higher Education of the Senate and the House of
Representatives. The members of the PMASB shall be entitled to reasonable
amounts of per diems, representation, travel and transportation allowances.

SECTION 5. Functions of the Board. - The PMASB shall have the
following functions:

a) Determine, formulate and promulgate the appropriate policies,
measures, rules and regulations necessary to operate, manage, maintain,
and enhance the effectiveness of the PMA and the scholarship and
services programs integral to its operations;

b) Establish cooperative and coordinative linkages with other educational
and related institutions in the public and private sectors to ensure the
effective operation, management and development of the PMA and the
scholarship and services programs;

c) Approve the accreditation of medical colleges and universities who will
be adjunct educational institutions and who in addition to the University of
the Philippines - Philippine General Hospital will accept medical scholars
to their respective institutions;

d) Prescribe such tests, standards and criteria for the selection of medical
scholars and the relevant and appropriate terms and conditions governing


the scholarship grants and the integration of qualified medical scholars
into the public health service system;

e) Determine the various expenses to be covered by the scholarship, and
approve the schedule of payments thereof to medical scholars from such
sums appropriated by law and other funds available for the purpose:

f) Design the staffing pattern, salaries and other compensation of officials
and personnel of the Secretariat subject to the approval of the Department
of Budget and Management and in accordance with the Salary
Standardization Law;

g) Conduct regular meetings as often as may be decided by the Board
and special meetings when necessary as may be called by the Chairman
of the Board; and

h) Perform such other duties and functions as may be assigned by the
President of the Philippines.

SECTION 6. Secretariat. - There shall be a Secretariat to provide
administrative and technical assistance to- the PMASB. It shall be headed by an
Executive Director who shall perform duties and responsibilities as may be
determined and delegated by the PMASB. The support staff of the Secretariat
shall be recruited preferably from qualified professionals from the academe and
medical profession.

SECTION 7. Medical Scholarship. ~ There shall be an annual selection
through appropriate examinations and screening processes of those who shall be
admitted to the Philippine Medical Academy to be known as Medical Academy
Scholars. The candidates shall come from among qualified graduating students
or graduates of appropriate courses in colleges and universities nationwide. The
qualified and selected scholars shall be granted scholarship in a medical course
and shall cover expenses for, among others, tuition, matriculation and other
School fees; prescribed textbooks, supplies and equipment; board and lodging
expenses; clothing and uniform allowances; traveling expenses and other related
miscellaneous living allowances: Provided, That at least five (5) candidates per
region, or when practicable, one (1) candidate from every province and city shall
be chosen to participate in the annual selection: Provided, further, That at least
fifty (50) Medical Academy Scholars shall be selected annually

SECTION 8. Qualifications of Candidates. — Candidates for admission into
the Philippine Medical Academy and for medical scholarship grants shall possess
the following minimum qualifications:

a) Must belong to the top thirty per centum (30%) of their respective
graduating classes and must be completing or already completed


undergraduate courses identified by the PMASB as a prerequisite course
to the pursuit of studies in the field of medicine;

b) Family and or personal incomes are not sufficient to finance their
education in the field of medicine: Provided, That those who are financially
capable and are willing to serve in public health and medical institutions
after graduation may be accepted: Provided, further, That they do not
compose more than 10 percent of the total scholars for a particular year;

c) Must be not more than twenty-five (25) years of age and a natural-born
citizen of the Philippines;

d) The PMASB shall determine such other qualifications as it deems
necessary for the purpose.

SECTION 9. General Conditions for Admission to the Philippine Medical
Academy and for the Scholarship Grant. — A medical academy scholar shall be
accepted to the Academy and the programs and shall receive and continue to
enjoy the benefits of the scholarship until the completion of the course, subject to
the following conditions:

a) He/She shall pass the entrance/admission examinations and related
requirements of PMASB and the medical school the scholar intends to
enroll;

b) The scholar shall carry the full load of subjects prescribed per semester
by the medical school, and shall, under no circumstance, drop a course
which will result in under-loading; and

c) The scholar may be allowed, for valid reasons preventing his enrolment,
to defer availing of the scholarship and file a leave of absence for a period
not exceeding one school year.

d) The scholar shall sign an agreement stating the terms and conditions of
the scholarship on a form prescribed by the Philippine Medical Academy
Scholarship Board;

e) He/She shall repay the full cost of scholarship and related benefits
received, and the scholarship shall be terminated in the event the grantee
accepts another scholarship from other government or private agencies or
entities; and

f) The full cost of scholarship and related benefits received shall be paid
by the scholar in case of failure to complete the medical course without
valid cause as may be determined by PMASB: Provided, That, if the
terminated medical scholar completes another course and qualifies as an


allied medical service practitioner, he/she may choose, instead of
repayment of scholarship costs, to render public service and be integrated
into the public health and medical service system.

SECTION 10. Medical Service Program. — The scholar shall, pursuant to
the agreement provided in Section 6 hereof, render services and be integrated
into the public health and medical service system as medical doctor, with the
appropriate rank and salary upon passing the medical board examination:
Provided, That such service and integration in the public service shall be
mandatory for a period equivalent to at least two (2) years for every year of
scholarship availed: Provided, further, That the scholar, when he/she obtains a
very satisfactory performance rating, shall be entitled to salary step increases at
least every two years in the service: Provided, finally, That the scholar shall
undertake post graduate internship in a public health or medical institution that
shall ensure his acceptance and such internship shall be part of the mandatory
service and integration into the public health and medical service system.

SECTION 11. Appropriation. — The sum of One Hundred Million Pesos
(P100,000,000.00) for the initial implementation of this Act shall be charged
against the Contingent Fund and over-all savings of the Executive Branch.
Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary shalll be included in the subsequent
annual General Appropriations Act.

SECTION 12. Donations, Grants, etc. - The Board may accept donations,
legacies, grants, and other contributions to form part of the Medical Scholarship
Fund. Provided, that such donations, legacies, grants, and other contributions
shall be exempt from taxation and shall be allowable deductions for income tax
purposes. Proceeds from at least two (2) draws of the Philippine Charity
Sweepstakes per year shall also be allocated to finance the PMA, the
Scholarship and the Services Programs.

SECTION 13. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Chairman of
the Commission on Higher Education, in coordination with the Secretary of
Health, the President of the University of the Philippine System and the
Chairpersons of the Committees on Health and Higher Education of the Senate
and the House of Representatives shall issue such rules and regulations as may
be necessary for the implementation of this Act within sixty (60) days from the
effectivity thereof.

SECTION 14. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after

its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation or the Official
Gazette

Approved,