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FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENl--TE 
S. No. 1846 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Preventive medicine is defined as that specialty of medical practice which focuses on the 
health of individuals in order to protect, promote and maintain health and well-being and prevent 
disease, disability and premature death. Specialists in preventive medicines are uniquely trained 
in both clinical medicine and public health. They have the skills needed to understand and reduce 
the risks of disease, disability and death in individuals and in population groups. 
This specialty in medical practice includes both clinical and non-clinical aspects. 
Clinicians see patients on a daily basis a~d provide services in screening, health counseling, and 
immunization to diabetics, cardiac patients, and others who can benefit from prevention and 
lifestyle modification. Nan-clinical preventive medicine includes health policy, social and 
behavioral aspects of health and disease, ,epidemiology, or other areas in which populations, not 
individual patients are not the primary focus. Many preventive medicine physicians practice both 
clinical and non-clinical medicine. This is the only specialty that requires training in both clinical 
medicine and public health. 
In the workplace, preventive medicine doctors in occupational medicine parallel the 
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general pUblic health system in dealing with illnesses and injuries in workplace populations 
through worker protection, personal health promotion, hazard control, business continuity and 
effective medical management. However, there is an extreme shortage of doctors in the public 
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health field. Thus, there is an urgent need to enact the policy of providing grants for the training 
of medical residents in preventive medicine and public health.l 
I This bill was originally filed in the Thirteenth Congress, Third Regnlar Session. 
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FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE RERUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
S. No. 1846 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
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AN ACT 
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PROVIDING GRANTS FOR THE TRAINING OF MEDICAL RESIDENTS IN 
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PREVENTIVE MEDICINE AND PUBLIC HEALTH 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Preventive Medicine and 
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Public Health Training Act." 
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SECTION 2. Declaration of PolICY - It is the policy of the State to protect and promote 
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the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them. Pursuant to this 
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policy, this Act seeks to provide grants for the training of medical residents in preventive 
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medicine and public health. 
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SECTION 3. Grants Authorized -
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(A) IN GENERAL - The Secretary of Health, acting through the Director, may award 
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grants to, or enter into contracts with, eligible entities to provide training to graduate 
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medical residents in preventive medicine specialties. 
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(B) ELIGIBILITY - To be eligible to receive a grant or contract under subsection 
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(A), an entity shall-
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(1) be a school of public health, public health department, school of medicine, 
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public or private hospital, or public or private non-profit entity; 
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(2) submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and 
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containing such information as the Secretary may require; and 
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(3) maintain and adhere to a Letter of Agreement with a local community health 
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center that supports practicum training of preventive medicine residents, if 
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practicable. 
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(C) USE OF FUNDS - Amounts, received under a grant or contract under this section 
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shall be used to--
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(1) to plan, develop, and operate residency programs for preventive medicine or 
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public health; 
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(2) provide financial assistance, including tuition and stipends, to resident 
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physicians who plan to specialize in preventive medicine or public health; 
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(3) defray the costs associated with the planning, development, and operation of 
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preventive medicine or public health programs, including the development of 
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curriculum to be used in such programs, and the costs of practicum experiences; 
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and 
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(4) provide for the improvement of academic administrative units. 
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(D) Duration of Award- A grant or contract under this section shall be for a time not to 
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exceed 5 years. 
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SECTION 4. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is held invalid or 
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unconstitutional, the remainder of the Act or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
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valid and subsisting. 
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SECTION 5. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
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order, letter of instruction, administrative nile or regulation contrary to or inconsistent with the 
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provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly. 
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SECTION 6. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
, 
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publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
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Approved, 
IptmtO 1 july20 I 0 
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