16TH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Second Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 2' 7 
Senate Bill No. __ 17 
Introduced by SENATOR SONNY ANGARA 
AN ACT 
Milfl 25 P 6 :45 
ESTABLISHING A MEDICAL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM TO ENSURE THE AVAILABILITY 
OF DOCTORS IN EVERY PROVINCE NATIONWIDE 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill is a counterpart of A TEACHER Partylist Representative Julieta R. Cortuna's HB 
No. 4943, entitled, "An Act Establishing a Medical Scholarship Program to Ensure the Availability 
of Doctors in Every Province Nationwide". 
According to the data of the University of the Philippines College of Medicine, about 80% 
of its graduates leave the country to practice medicine abroad. Unfortunately, this trend has been 
increasing for the past 10 years. The effect is evident in the lack of available medical doctors to 
serve our underprivileged countrymen in our provincial public hospitals. 
This bill intends to finance the medical schooling of a beneficiary who after completing his 
studies and passing the medical board will serve as a doctor in the public hospital in his home 
province. As such, this bill attempts to address the continuing need for doctors in our provincial 
public hospitals to perform the required medical services to our fellowmen. 
In view of the foregoing, the early passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 


16th CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 
271 7 
Introduced by SENATOR SONNY ANGARA 
AN ACT 
'15 
MIIR 25 P 6 :45 
ESTABLISHING A MEDICAL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM TO ENSURE THE AVAILABILITY 
OF DOCTORS IN EVERY PROVINCE NATIONWIDE 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. It shall be the duty of the state to protect the welfare 
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of its people including the well-being of every individual. By ensuring that every province 
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nationwide shall have quality medical practitioners who will serve the government, access the 
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health care in every province will significantly irnprove. The state shall counter the current trend 
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of doctors of not serving the rural areas due to the less attractive prospects of medical practice 
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threat, considering the huge expenses that a person will entail to study rnedicine. 
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SECTION 2. Scholarship. There shall be established a scholarship program for medicine to be 
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implemented by the University of the Philippines College of Medicine (UPCM). 
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a) The scholarship program shall accept at least one beneficiary from every province in 
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the country, who passed the qualifying requirements of the UPCM. The number of 
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beneficiaries per province shall depend on the number of medical doctors needed for 
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each province as determined by the Department of Health (DOH). 
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b) The scholarship program shall include free tuition and other school fees, allowance for 
prescribed 
books, 
supplies 
and 
equipment, 
clothing 
and 
uniform 
housing 
accommodation, transportation and other related miscellaneous living allowances. 
This is extended to cover the duration of the beneficiary's medical board review. 
c) In the event that the beneficiary fails to finish the course, he is obliged to pay the full 
amount of the scholarship that has already been given. 
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d) The beneficiary shall be required to serve his provincial hospital for at least 5 years 
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upon passing the medical board examination. DOH shall provide for the necessary 
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number of plantilla position to accomrnodate the new doctors in the provincial 
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hospitals. 
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SECTION 3. Appropriation. UP and DOH shall include in their annual budget the funds 
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necessary to implement the provisions of this Act. 
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SECTION 4. Implementing Rules and Regulations. The Commission on Higher 
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Education (CHED) shall in collaboration with UP and DOH shall issue the necessary rules and 
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regulations for the for the purpose of implementing the provisions of this Act. 
[ 


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SECTION 5. Repealing Clause. All laws or parts of any law, order, rule and regulation or 
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parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly. 
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SECTION 6. Effective Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,