Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE;
Constitution Hills, Quezon City’

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. £889

Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE ERIC 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 ration of the Philippines is at 1:33,000. It
has been reported that a good number of doctors have turned to
nursing and work as nurses overseas. Despite this, the gap between
the number of doctors and the patients still needs to be bridged as
medical professionals play a vital role in our society. This Bill is
intended to contribute in helping the country add more physicians
in order to increase the number of physicians that 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. The cost
of medical education is high, it is so costly that even families from
the middle class find it difficult to avail of medical education. 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 here. Not to mention the cost
of books and medical instruments that are required as part of their
studies, becoming a doctor is most definitely exorbitant.


As a measure to surge 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
top 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.

on 6 OW”,
ERIC OLIVAREZ


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Constitution Hills, Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

4889
House Bill No.

Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE ERIC L. OLIVAREZ

AN ACT PROVIDING MEDICAL SCHOLARSHIPS STATE
UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES TO QUALIFIED STUDENTS AND
FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted in 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 charged 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 Appropriations 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.