Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Constitution Hills, Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No._____ 
________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by: REPRESENTATIVE EDWIN L. OLIVAREZ 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
According to the Philippine Medical Association, there are 130,000 
licensed physicians in the country.  However, there are only 70,000 who are active 
in the profession.  This means that the present doctor-population ratio of the 
Philippines is at 1:33,000.  It has been reported that a good number of doctors 
have turned to nursing and worked as nurses overseas.  Due to such disparity in 
doctor-patient ratio, there is a need to augment the number of physicians to work 
in the country. 
Besides the number of physicians who prefer to work overseas, another 
problem that contributes in the shortage of licensed physicians in the country is 
the cost of medical education which is so costly that even families from the 
middle class find it difficult to avail of.  The total fee for a medical student in one 
semester in the Philippines is roughly around One Hundred Fifty Thousand Pesos 
(Php150,000.00) and the expenses do not end there.  Not to mention the cost of 
books and medical instruments that are required as part of their studies, becoming 
a doctor is most definitely expensive. 
As a measure to increase the number of licensed physicians in the country, 
this Bill intends to confer a full scholarship grant to all incoming first year 
medical students who graduated as part of the ten of their class and whose parents’ 
combined income is below economic standards in all state universities and 
colleges. This way, incoming medical students who have performed 
exceptionally in their collegiate studies and whose financial capabilities deprive 
them of the chance to avail of medical education will be able to do so thereby 
eventually adding to the number of physicians in the country. 
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this Bill is earnestly sought. 
EDWIN L. OLIVAREZ 
October 27, 2022
3:41 pm
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Constitution Hills, Quezon City 
NINETEENTHCONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No._____ 
________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by: REPRESENTATIVE EDWIN L. OLIVAREZ 
AN ACT PROVIDING MEDICAL SCHOLARSHIPS STATE 
UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES TO QUALIFIED STUDENTS AND 
FOT OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted is the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Republic of 
the Philippines in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title – This Act shall be known as the “The National 
Medical Scholarship Act.” 
SECTION 2. State Universities and Colleges shall hereby confer a full 
scholarship grant to all incoming first year medical students who graduated as top 
ten of their class and whose parents’ combined income is below economic 
standards. 
SECTION 3. The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act 
be changed against the 2019 appropriations of the Commission on Higher 
Education. Thereafter such sums as may be necessary for the continuous 
implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriation 
Act. 
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its publication in the official 
Gazette in at least three newspaper of general circulation thirty (30) days upon its 
approval. 
Approved. 
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