Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Sixteenth Congress
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILLNO,__ 4943

Introduced by Honorable Julieta R. Cortuna

EXPLANATORY NOTE

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 to 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 thereat,
considering the huge expenses that a person will entail to study medicine,

The scholarship program will provide the state the tool to combat
perception that medical practice in the rural areas is not desirable.
Eliminating the cost aspect in the study of medicine, individuals who intend
to go into the medical practice can avail of a scholarship program if given
the right circumstances.

In view of the foregoing, passage of this bill is hereby being earnestly
sought.

SULIETA



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Sixteenth Congress
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No__4943

Introduced by Representative Julieta R. Cortuna

ESTABLISHING A MEDICAL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM TO ENSURE THE
AVAILABILITY OF DOCTORS IN EVERY PROVINCE NATIONWIDE
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. \t 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 to 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 thereat, considering the huge expenses that a
person will entail to study medicine.

The scholarship program will provide the state the tool to combat perception that

medical practice in the rural areas is not desirable.

SECTION 2. Scholarship. There shall be established a scholarship program for
medicine to be implemented by the University of the Philippines’ College of Medicine.
a) The program shall accept at least five (5) beneficiaries coming from every

province in the country nationwide as recommended by the Provincial Governor.


20

21

22

24

25

b) The beneficiaries shall be required to serve the provincial hospital of their
province for at least ten years. If a particular province has no provincial hospital
with which the beneficiaries can serve, the governor shall nominate the
government hospital which the beneficiary can serve complying the conditions
that the governor may require to offset the absence of the provincial hospital

°)

The scholarship program shall include free tuition, book allowance, housing
accommodation, transportation allowance and other necessary expenses to
complete the study of medicine without requiring the beneficiary any cost other

than his due diligence in the study of medicine.

SECTION 3. Appropriation. The University of the Philippines shall include in their

annual budget the funds necessary to implement the provisions of this Act.

SECTION 4. Implementing Rules and Regulations. The Commission on Higher
Education in collaboration with the University of the Philippines shall issue the necessary

rules and regulation for the purpose of implementing the provisions of this Act

SECTION 5. Repealing Clause. All laws or parts of any law, orders, rules, and
regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or amended

accordingly

SECTION 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,