Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

4974

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Hon. John Marvin “Yul Servo” C. Nieto

EXPLANATORY NOTE
The 1987 Philippine Constitution, Article XII, Section 12, provides 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.”

Further, it is provided in the 1987 Philippine Constitution, Article XIV, Section 2 (3):

“The State shall establish and maintain a system of scholarship programs,
subsidies, and other incentives which shall be available to deserving students
in both public and private schools, especially to the underprivileged.”

In a report conducted by CNN Philippines last October 13, 2016, it was stated that
the Philippines is short of 15, 000 doctors to be able to adequately meet the health
needs of the Filipinos each year since the Philippines is only producing 2,600 doctors
per year. The Philippine Medical Association said that there are 130,000 licensed
physicians in the country, whereas, only 70,000 are active in the profession.

This bill aims to remove, or at least minimize, the shortage of doctors by means of
creating a program that will help them fund their medical studies. In exchange, the
scholars shall be required to work as public practitioners to give back to the
community. The bill provides for certain qualifications before one may be granted a
medical scholarship, one of which is that the candidate must be among the top thirty
per centum (30%) of their respective graduating class, in order for the State to
assure that only deserving students will be granted this kind of scholarship. It is our
duty to give priority to education to accelerate social progress and promote human
development.

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

JOH) IRYIN “YUL SERVO” C. NIETO


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. ect

Introduced by Hon. John Marvin “Yul Servo” C. Nieto

AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE MEDICAL SCHOLARSHIP AND SERVICE
PROGRAM AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREOF

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 “Medical Scholarship
and Service Program Act”

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;
that the State shall establish and maintain a system of scholarship grants which
shall be available to deserving students in both public and private schools, especially
to the underprivileged. Towards this end, the State shall establish a scholarship and
service program 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. Medical Scholarship and Service Program (MSSP) - There
shall be an annual selection through appropriate examinations and screening
processes of those who shall be admitted to the medical Scholarship and Service
Program (MSSP). 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
medical courses 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; travelling 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) scholars shall be selected annually.

Section 4. Qualification of Candidates - Candidates for the MSSP shall
possess the following minimum qualifications:

A. Must belong to the top thirty per centum (30%) of the respective graduating
classes and must be completing or already completed undergraduate courses
identified by the Department of Health (DOH) 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 ten percent (10%)
of the total scholars for a particular year;

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

D. The DOH shall determine such other qualifications as it deems necessary
for the purpose;

Section 5. General Conditions for Admission to the MSSP - A medical
scholar shall be accepted to the MSSP 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 shall pass the entrance/ admission examination and related
requirements of the DOH 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 circumstances, drop a course which will
result in under-loading, and;

C. The scholar may be allowed, for valid reasons preventing his enrollment,
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 DOH;

E. He shall repay the full cost of the scholarship and other 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 the DOH; Provided, that, if the terminated medical scholar
completes another course and qualifies as an allied medical service practitioner, he
may choose, instead of repayment of scholarship costs, to render public service and
be integrated into the public health and medical service system.

Section 6. Secretariat - The Department of Health, through its Secretary,
may create a Secretariat to provide administrative and technical assistance to
effectively and efficiently implement the MSSP. It shall perform duties and
responsibilities as may be determined and delegated by the Secretary of Health. The
support staff as may be created shall be recruited preferably from qualified
professionals from the academe and medical profession.

Section 7. Appropriations - The sum of One Hundred Million
(P100,000,000.00) pesos 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 shall be included in the subsequent
annual General Appropriations Act.


Section 8. Donations, Grants, and other contributions - The DOH 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 Program.

Section 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations - The Secretary of the
Department of Health, in coordination with the Chairperson of the Commission on
Higher Education, the President of the University of the Philippine System and the
Chairpersons of the Committees on Health and 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 10. Repealing Clause - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules
and regulations and other issuance or parts thereof, inconsistent with the provisions
of this Act, are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Section 11. Effectivity - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in at least two (2) newspaper of general circulation or the Official
Gazette.

Approved,