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

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

4471
HOUSE BILL NO

Introduced by REPRI

EXPLANATORY NOTE

According to reports from health experts, it is estimated that the Philippines
currently lacks 60,000 doctors which means that six out of ten Filipinos die without seeing a
doctor. According to them, hospitals in rural areas have struggled because of the
unavailability of doctors. In fact, even hospitals in urban areas have difficulty in hiring
medical doctors and professionals because a lot of them opt to work abroad as nurses
where they are paid more than what they earn here as doctors.

The problem is compounded by the prohibitive cost of medical studies which
discourages a lot of Filipino families to have their children take up medical studies. Unless
the government arrest this alarming shortage of doctors, our public health system would
suffer and the delivery of medical and health services especially in the countryside would be
severely incapacitated.

This bill attempts to address this need by encouraging the youth, through the
provision of a scholarship and service program, to pursue medical education and thus fill up
the shortage and create a pool of doctors that would serve in the rural areas through
integration.

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

THONY L. ESPINO


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

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

447]
HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE JUMEL ANTHONY L ESPINO

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A MEDICAL EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP AND SERVICE
PROGRAM AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR.

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 “Philippine Medical Education
Scholarship and Service Act”

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to undertake health manpower
development responsive to the country's health service needs. Towards this end, the State
shall establish mechanisms inclusive of creating educational scholarship programs 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.

Sec. 3. Philippine Medical Education Scholarship and Service Program Board (PMESSPB). -
There is hereby created a Philippine Medical Education Scholarship and Service Program
Board (PMESSPB) which shall administer Philippine Medical Education Scholarship and
Service Program and shall be empowered to formulate, consolidate, integrate, systematize
and implement all policies, rules and regulations and programs related thereto and
intended to enhance the effectiveness thereof. The PMESSPB shall be composed of the
Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education as chairperson of the Board; and as
members: the Secretary of Education, the Secretary of Health, the Secretary of Budget and
Management, the President of the University of the Philippines System, The Dean of the
College of Medicine of the University of the Philippines, and the Chairpersons of the
Committees on Health and Higher Education of the Senate and the House of


Representatives. The Executive Director of the Philippine Medical Education Scholarship and
Service Program Board shall serve as the Secretariat of the Board.

Sec. 4, Functions of the Board. - The PMESSPB shall have the following functions:

a. Determine, formulate and promulgate the appropriate policies, measures, rules and
regulations necessary to operate, manage, maintain, and enhance the effectiveness of the
scholarship and services programs integral to its operations;

b. Establish cooperative and coordinative linkages with other educational and related
institutions in the public and private sectors to ensure the effective operation, management
and development of the scholarship and services program;

c. Approve the accreditation of medical colleges and universities who will be adjunct
educational institutions and who in addition to the University of the Philippines - Philippine
General Hospital will accept medical scholars to their respective institutions;

d. Prescribe such tests, standards and criteria for the selection of medical scholars; and the
relevant and appropriate terms and conditions governing the scholarship grants and the
integration of qualified medical scholars into the public health service system;

e. Determine the various expenses to be covered by the scholarship, and approve the
schedule of payments thereof to medical scholars from such sums appropriated by law and
other funds available for the purpose;

f. Design the staffing pattern, salaries and other compensation of officials and personnel of
the Secretariat subject to the approval of the Department of Budget and Management and
in accordance with the Salary Standardization Law;

g. Conduct regular meetings as often as may be decided by the Board and special meetings
when necessary as may be called by the Chairman of the Board; and

h. Perform such other duties and functions as may be assigned by the President of the
Philippines.

Sec. 5. Secretariat - There shall be a Secretariat to provide administrative and technical
assistance to the PMESSPB. It shall be headed by an Executive Director who shall perform
duties and responsibilities as may be determined and delegated by the PMESSPB. The
support staff of the Secretariat shall be recruited preferably from qualified professionals
from the academe and medical profession.

Sec. 6. Medical Scholarship. - There shall be an annual selection per region through
appropriate examinations and screening processes of those who shall be admitted to the
Philippine Medical Education Scholarship Program. 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
a medical course 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; traveling expenses and other related
miscellaneous living allowances: Provided, That at least five (5) candidates from every
province and city shall be chosen to participate in the annual selection.

Sec. 7. Qualifications of Candidates. - Candidates for admission into the Philippine Medical
Education Scholarship and Service Program shall possess the following minimum
qualifications:

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

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

d. Such other qualifications that the PMESSPB shall determine as necessary for the purpose.

Sec. 8. General Conditions for Admission to the Philippine Medical Education Scholarship
and Service Program. - A medical scholar shall be accepted to the program and shall receive
and continue to enjoy the benefits of the scholarship until the completion of the course,
subject to the following conditions:

a. The scholar shall pass the entrance/admission examinations and related requirements of
PMESSPB and the medical school the scholar intends to enroll in;

'b. The scholar shall carry the full load of subjects prescribed per semester by the medical
school, and shall, under no circumstance, drop a course which will result in under-loading;

c. The scholar may be allowed, for valid reasons preventing his enrolment, 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 PMESSPB;

e. The scholar shall repay the full cost of scholarship and 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 Board: Provided, That, if the terminated medical scholar completes another course and
qualifies as an allied medical service practitioner, the scholar may choose, instead of
repayment of scholarship costs, to render public service and be integrated into the public
health and medical service system.

Sec. 9. Medical Service Program. - The scholar shall, pursuant to the agreement provided in
Section 8 hereof, render services and be integrated into the public health and medical
service system as medical doctor, with the appropriate rank and salary upon passing the
medical board examination: Provided, That such service and integration in the public
service shall be mandatory for a period equivalent to at least one (1) year for every year of
scholarship availed: Provided, further, That the scholar when he obtains a very satisfactory
performance rating, shall be entitled to salary step increases for at least every two (2) years
in the service: Provided, finally. That the scholar shall undertake post graduate internship in
a public health or medical institution that shall ensure his acceptance and such internship
shall be part of the mandatory service and integration into the public health and medical
service system.

Sec. 10. Appropriation. - The amount necessary to implement this Act shall be included in
the subsequent annual General Appropriations Act.

Sec. 11. Donations, Grants, etc. - The PMESSPB 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
Scholarship and the Services Program.

Sec. 12. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days after the effectivity
of this Act, the Commission on Higher Education, the Department of Health, the Department
of Budget and Management, the University of the Philippines System, and other
government agencies concerned shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for
the proper implementation of this Act.

Sec. 13. Separability Clause. - If, for any reason, any provision of this Act or any part thereof
shall be held unconstitutional and invalid, the other parts or provisions of this Act, which are
not affected thereby, shall remain in full force and effect.

Sec. 14. Repeating Cause. - All laws, decrees, resolutions, orders or ordinances or parts
thereof inconsistent with this Act, are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

Sec. 15. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in at least
two (2) newspapers of general circulation or in the Official 24 Gazette.

Approved.