SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
S.B. No
)
SENATE
1157
(fiffift of Ihc/P frrrf.irjj
'16 
SEP 19 
P3 5 7
’ RV;
Introduced by Senator SONNY ANGARA
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A MEDICAL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM TO ENSURE THE 
AVAILABILITY OF DOCTORS IN EVERY PROVINCE NATIONWIDE
EXPLANATORY NOTE
In 2014, various groups— including the Coalition for Primary Care and the 
Philippine College of Physicians— warned that the country is in the “midst of a 
healthcare crisis,” born out of a lack or a maldistribution of doctors and healthcare 
professionals.
The country reportedly1 only has 3.5 doctors for every 10,000 population—way 
below the ideal ratio of up to 1.5 doctors for every 1,000 population. At the same time, 
most doctors and medical specialists are concentrated in urban centers and larger 
municipalities, leaving far-flung communities largely unserved.
Such problems are only exacerbated by the lure of more lucrative opportunities 
abroad, leading to an exodus of medical professionals. 
For instance, according to data 
from the UP-College of Medicine, about 80 percent of its graduates leave the country to 
practice medicine abroad— a trend that appears to continuously be on the rise.
The effect of all these factors is evident in the lack of available medical doctors to 
serve our underprivileged countrymen, especially those in far-flung communities. 
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), some 58.2 percent of deaths 
recorded in 2013 were considered “unattended.” That is, close to 3 out of 5 Filipinos 
who passed away that year did so without seeing a doctor, nurse or any other allied 
health professional.
Reversing these worrisome trends is the main goal of this proposed measure. 
This bill intends to finance the medical schooling of a beneficiary who after completing 
his studies and passing the medical board will serve as a doctor in the public hospital in 
his home province. As such, this bill attempts to address the continuing need for doctors 
in our provincial public hospitals to perform the required medical services to our 
fellowmen.
1 See Geronimo, |ee. "Where are the health workers?" Uploaded on February 12, 2014. Accessible via 
h ttD ://www.raDpler.com/nation/SQ267-health-workforce-crisis. Accessed on September 15,2016


Recently, after visiting Cuba to study its widely lauded healthcare system, Health 
Secretary Resell Ubial said that in order to replicate the successes of the Central 
American country, the Philippines needs to employ 35,000 more doctors. In view of this 
monumental and urgent need, the early passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
SCfNNY ANGARA


V
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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First Regular Session 
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SENATE
S.B. No. 1157
•16 
SEP 19 
P3 5 7
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Introduced by Senator SONNY ANGARA
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AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A MEDICAL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM TO ENSURE THE 
AVAILABILITY OF DOCTORS IN EVERY PROVINCE NATIONWIDE
Be it enacted by the Senate and House o f Representatives o f the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. Declaration o f Policy. -  It shall be the duty of the state to protect the 
welfare of its people including the well-being of every individual. By ensuring that every 
province nationwide shall have quality medical practitioners who will serve the 
government, access the health care in every province will significantly improve. The 
state shall counter the current trend of doctors of not serving the rural areas due to the 
less attractive prospects of medical practice threat, considering the huge expenses that 
a person will entail to study medicine.
SEC. 2. Scholarship. -  There shall be established a scholarship program for medicine 
to be implemented by the University of the Philippines College of Medicine (UPCM).
a) The scholarship program shall accept at least one beneficiary from every 
province in the country, who passed the qualifying requirements of the 
UPCM. The number of beneficiaries per province shall depend on the number 
of medical doctors needed for each province as determined by the 
Department of Health (DOH).
b) The scholarship program shall include free tuition and other school fees, 
allowance for prescribed books, supplies and equipment, clothing and uniform 
housing accommodation, transportation and other related miscellaneous 
living allowances. This is extended to cover the duration of the beneficiary’s 
medical board review.


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c) In the event that the beneficiary fails to finish the course, he is obliged to pay 
the full amount of the scholarship that has already been given.
d) The beneficiary shall be required to serve his provincial hospital for at least 5 
years upon passing the medical board examination. DOH shall provide for the 
necessary number of plantilla position to accommodate the new doctors in the 
provincial hospitals.
SEC. 3. Appropriations. -  UP and DOH shall include in their annual budget the funds 
necessary to implement the provisions of this Act.
SEC. 4. Implementing Rules and Regulations. -  The Commission on Higher 
Education (CHED) shall in collaboration with UP and DOH shall issue the necessary 
rules and regulations for the for the purpose of implementing the provisions of this Act.
SEC. 5. Repealing Clause. -  All laws or parts of any law, order, rule and regulation or 
parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.
SEC. 6. Effectivity Clause. -  This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general 
circulation.
Approved,