Republic of the Philippines

Bouse of Representatives

Batasan Wills, Queson City

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

5197

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Representatives Florencio Gabriel “Bem” G. Noel

EXPLANATORY NOTE
Article XIII, Section 11 of the 1987 Constitution states that:

“The State shall adopt an integrated and comprehensive
approach to health development which shall endeavor to make essential
goods, health and other social services available to all the people at
affordable cost. There shall be priority for the needs of the
underprivileged sick, elderly, disabled, women, and children.”

The World Health Organization has established that the minimum threshold
of twenty-three (23) doctors, nurses and midwives per 10,000 population is
necessary per country to deliver essential health services.' Philippines is one of the
countries that fall below this threshold, and the compliance of providing the essential
number of skilled health workforce is critical to the attainment of country’s health
goals.

According to Philippine College of Physicians (PCP), and different health
care groups in the Philippines, 47.6% of deaths among Filipinos are unattended by
a medical doctor or allied health provider. This statistic shows an indisputable proof
of healthcare workforce crisis, and the two (2) main reasons for the same are low
salary and benefits and migration of the healthcare professionals. Thus, having an
appropriate health and medical care services available is an important goal in the
Philippines.

This bill aims to push the full scholarship grant to all aspiring eligible medical
students to address the shortage of doctors in the Philippines. As part of the grant of

* https://www-.who.int/hrh/workforce_mdgs/en/


scholarships, the scholar must work in the Philippines for five (5) years — two (2)
years of which must be rendered in a government hospital or office where she/he
resides.

The immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

iO GABRIEL “BEM” G. NOEL
An Waray Partylist Representative


Republic of the Philippines

House of Representatives

Batasan Hills, Queson City

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 5197

Introduced by Representatives Florencio Gabriel “Bem” G. Noel

AN ACT
PROVIDING MEDICAL SCHOLARSHIPS IN STATE UNIVERSITIES AND
COLLEGES TO QUALIFIED STUDENTS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This act shall be known as the “Medical Scholarship Act”

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - Itis the policy of the State to protect and promote
the right to healthy of the people and instill health consciousness among them. In order
to carry out such policy, the number of health professionals who will provide for the
needed health services must meet the World Health Organization standards. Towards
this end, the State shall establish a scholarship program that will encourage aspiring
medical students to pursue education and training in the field of medicine and who,
thereafter, shall render their services in government hospitals or offices.

SECTION 3. Qualifications of Candidates. - A scholarship in a state- run university or
college shall be granted to any aspiring medical student, subject to the following
qualifications:

a) Must belong to the top twenty per centum (20%) of the graduating batch;

b) The personal and/or family’s income must not be sufficient to support the
aspiring medical student's education;

c) Must passed the National Medical Admission Test (NMAT);

d) Must passed the medical school’s entrance examination; and

e) Such other qualifications as the state-run university or college may deem
necessary, provided that it shall not defeat the purpose of this Act.


SECTION 4. Extent of Scholarship Grant. - The scholarship grant shall cover expenses
for, among others, tuition, laboratory and miscellaneous fees, required textbooks,
school supplies and equipment, clothing and uniform allowances, traveling expenses,
board and lodging expenses, and subsistence and living allowances.

SECTION 5. Conditions of the Scholarship Grant. - The admitted scholars shall
continue to enjoy the benefits of the scholarship grant until the completion of the
program, subject to the following conditions:

a) The scholar should finish the entire program without any delay;

b) The scholar may be allowed to file a leave of absence for one (1) school year in
the institution where he/she is enrolled only for justifiable reasons;

c) No other scholarship grant shall be accepted by the scholar while enjoying the
benefits of this Act; and

d) Immediately after graduating from the program, the scholar must work in the
country for five (5) years, and two (2) years of which must be rendered in a
government hospital or office where he/she resides

SECTION 6. Failure to Comply with the Conditions. - Failure of the scholar to comply
with Section 5 pars, (a), (b) and (c) shall automatically disqualify him/her to enjoy the
benefits of the scholarship program. In addition, thereto, the non-compliant scholar shall
pay for all the expenses incurred during his/her participation in the scholarship program
if any condition is breached.

SECTION 7. Number of Scholars to be Admitted. - Every five (5) years upon the
effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of the Department of Health (DOH), the Chairman
of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and the President and a representative
from the respective Boards of Regents of the state universities or colleges concerned
shall determine the number of scholars that should be admitted every school year. The
needed number of physicians of the town or province where the state university or
college is situated shall be taken into consideration in determining the number of
scholars, provided that the admitted scholars in any state university or college for any
given school year shall not be less than five (5).

SECTION 8. Appropriations. - Fifty per centum (50%) of the amount necessary to
effectively carry out the initial implementation of this Act shall be sourced from the
DOH, while the remaining fifty per centum (50%) shall be coming from the funds of
the covered state-run university or college.

Thereafter, such amount necessary for the continued implementation of this Act
shall be included in the General Appropriations Act.

SECTION 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days after the
effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of DOH, the Chairman of CHED, and the President
and a representative from the respective Boards of Regents of the state universities or
colleges concerned shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary for the effective
implementation of this Act.


SECTION 10. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity and effectivity of the other
provisions hereof.

SECTION 11. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, and issuances, or portions
thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, are hereby repealed,
amended or modified accordingly.

SECTION 12. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,