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

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No, 9243

Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE ERIC L. OLIVAREZ

EXPLANATORY NOTE

One of the alarming statistics that our country has is its doctor
to patient ration which is 1:33,000. The very wide disparity between
number of doctors and patients is very alarming considering that the
health care system plays a very vital role in our country. Health care
is a universal need that all citizens avail of. No matter the age, the
social class, the gender, health care is availed by all.

It is even quite unimaginable how the situation is in rural areas.
Given that the lack of resources, funds and doctors in their areas
those in the rural areas have it much more difficult than those in the
urban areas. Residents in the rural areas who find themselves in this
alarming situation must be given a way out. This problem, the doctor-
patient ration that is, must be found a solution in order to constrict
its wide disparity.

This Bill intends to afford a solution in the current crisis that
the country is in. In order to strengthen the manpower of health
professionals, this Bill shall provide a scholarship program to one
resident per town in the municipalities in the country. Thereafter,
said scholars, upon obtaining their licenses to practice medicine, are
mandated to provide medical service in their respective towns.
Through this Bill, students who aspire to be doctors but do not have


enough financial means to pursue a degree in medicine are given a
chance to pursue their dreams. Not only does this Bill help the
residents in their individual capacities but it also provides additional
manpower to all towns as scholars in this proposed program are
mandated to serve in their respective towns. Eventually, this program
is expected to magnetize other medical professionals into serving in
rural areas thereby bridging the extensive gap between doctors and
patients.

In view of the foregoing, the passage of this Bill is earnestly

sought.

ewe.
ERIC OLIVAREZ


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

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No, 5243

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Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE ERIC L. OLIVAREZ

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AN ACT PROVIDING MEDICAL SCHOLARSHIPS TO
QUALIFIED STUDENTS IN ALL MUNICIPALITIES,
ESTABLISHING FOR THIS PURPOSE THE ONE TOWN:
ONE DOCTOR SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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
One Town: One Doctor Act."

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy - It is hereby declared
policy of the State to provide measures in response to the growing
imbalance of the doctor-patient ratio in our country. At the same
time, it is also the policy of the state to contribute in the provision of
priority measures that can help reduce social and economic
inequalities.

For this purpose, the government shall institutionalize
scholarship programs to deserving and qualified individuals in each
of the municipalities of the country. Through this, these scholars will
be given the opportunity to pursue a degree in medicine and


thereafter extend and apply their honed skills in their own
municipalities by integrating them into the public health systems
through policies and programs initiated by the government.

SECTION 3. One Town: One Doctor Scholarship Program —
It shall be the duty of the Department of Health to establish a One
Town: One Doctor Scholarship Program that will grant to qualified
Filipinos who wish to pursue a degree in Doctor of Medicine
scholarship and financial to aid them in their pursuit. The
scholarship shall cover, among others, tuition fee, miscellaneous
fees, laboratory fees, required textbooks, school supplies and
equipment needed for the degree, uniforms, traveling expenses,
substinence, and living allowances: Provided, that the program will
be provided to one student from each of the municipalities who is
both interested and qualified to avail of the program: Provided further,
that should none of the residents of the municipality avail or qualify
in the program, the allotted slot may be assumed by a scholar from
another town in the same province. Provided, finally, that the scholar
who assumes the slot of another municipality shall render service in
the municipality where the slot was assumed.

SECTION 4 Qualifications of Candidates.- All qualified
scholars shall possess the following qualifications:

a) Must be a bona fide resident of the municipality where the
scholar filed an application for the program; with the exception
to those who shall assume the slots of municipalities where no
resident qualified for the program;

b) Must belong to the top thirty per centum (30%) of their
respective graduating classes and must be completing or
already completed any of the undergraduate prerequisite
courses for a degree in medicine;


c) Must have a family or personal income which is insufficient to
sustain their education in the degree in medicine;

d) The University concerned shall have the discretion to provide
for additional qualifications it deems necessary for the
admission to the program.

SECTION 5. Conditions of the Scholarship. -In order for the
qualified scholar to be able to obtain and maintain the scholarship
grant, the following conditions must be met:

a) The scholar must pass the admission examinations and related
requirements of the medical school chosen;

fe

The scholar shall carry the full load of subjects prescribed per
semester by the medical school, and shall not, under any
circumstances, drop a course which will result in under-
loading;

The scholar may be allowed, for valid reasons, to defer availing
of the scholarship and file a leave of absence for a period not
exceeding one (1) school year; and

a

The scholar shall receive and continue to enjoy the benefits of
the scholarship until the completion of the course.

&

SECTION 6. Public Health Service System. - The scholar
shall be integrated into the public health and medical service
system as a medical doctor, with the appropriate rank and salary
upon passing the medical board examination. The service
integration to the public service will last for a period of at least
four (4) years upon graduation: Provided, that the scholar shall
undertake post graduate internship in a public health or medical
institution and such internship with salaries allocated shall be


part of the mandatory service and integration into the public
health and medical service system. Provided, further, that upon
graduation, the scholar shall be deployed in the scholar’s
hometown to achieve the program’s goal of having at least one
doctor per municipality: Provided, finally, that the scholar who
assumed the slot of another municipality where no resident
qualified shall be deployed to the same municipality where the slot
was assumed.

SECTION 7. Information Dissemination. - The Department
of Health shall conduct regular information dissemination and
recruitment with regard to the One Town: One Doctor Scholarship
Program to ensure the continuous supply of medical scholars to
all municipalities in the country.

SECTION 8. Appropriations. - The amounts necessary to
effectively carry out the initial implementation of this Act shall be
obtained from the current budget of the Department of Health.
Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for the continued
implementation of this Act shall be included in the succeeding
General Appropriations Act

SECTION 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations— Within
sixty (60) days from the promulgation of this Act, the
implementing rules and regulations for the proper
implementation of its provisions shall be formulated by the
appropriate government office or agency in coordination with all
the stakeholders and covered establishments and institutions.

SECTION 10. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this
Act is declared unconstitutional or otherwise invalid, the validity
of the other provisions shall not be affected thereby.


SECTION 11. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders,
rules and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act
are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION. 12. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen
(15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a

newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,