Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City
FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 2593

Introduced by Hon. Mark Llandro L. Mendoza

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The flight of medical course graduates and professionals to different countries in
search of greener pastures has been going on unabated since these countries
opened their doors to foreign medical professionals many years ago. This trend
has been on an upscale in recent history, so much so that many more are taking
up medical courses, especially nursing, and schools of various reputes have
mushroomed in response to the increasing demand.

While we welcome the employment of our people because it is without doubt
giving boost to our economy that has long been dependent on the remittances of
overseas workers, there is another side to this otherwise rosy picture.

Since before the turn of the century, the immigration of our medical professionals
has not been by the tens or hundreds but by the tens of thousands every year.
Sadly, the promise of a better life has attracted our best doctors, nurses, dentists,
and other medical professionals who have dedicated many years of their lives in
our local hospitals for wages that are inversely proportional to the kind of service
that they render.

Even new graduates of these courses are being recruited by countries in great
need of medical services. Thus, even before they have practiced their profession,
our country has been deprived of the service of our medical professionals.

The growing lack of experienced nurses in hospitals is a palpable truth that
becomes more evident with each passing year. In some hospitals, “OJTs” (on-
the-job trainees) of caregiving courses, under the supervision of a head nurse, are
performing the tasks that should be done by nurses.

The great demand for nurses has attracted even doctors who have enrolled in
nursing courses in the hope of improving a lot in life. It is so sad to see our
favorite doctors go, though the ones left behind are no less capable. However,
their departure is leaving a gaping hole that needs to be addressed.

In the Philippines, the ratio of doctors to population is a far cry from what is
ideal, and more so in rural areas where fewer doctors are enticed to practice.
Perhaps only the most patriotic of our countrymen are willing to spend their
years catering to the needs of the poorest of our people, in areas far from the
reach of cable TV and the trappings of a modern lifestyle.


This bill intends to address this need. And while it may seem that we might be
imposing a requirement that some may find objectionable, it would be
worthwhile to remember that the taxpayers’ money that could have been spent
to address the basic social needs of the marginalized sector of our population,
had instead been spent to send the Iskolar ng Bayan to school.

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



Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No,_29 93

Introduced by Hon. Mark Llandro L. Mendoza

AN ACT
REQUIRING ALL MEDICAL DOCTORS, DENTISTS, NURSES AND.
OTHER GRADUATES OF MEDICAL COURSES OF PUBLIC OR STATE
COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES TO RENDER A COMPULSORY TWO-
YEAR RURAL MEDICAL SERVICE AS A PREREQUISITE FOR MEDICAL
HEALTH EMPLOYMENT OR PRIVATE MEDICAL PRACTICE AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

Section 1. Medical doctors, dentists, nurses and other graduates of medical
courses hereinafter referred to as medical workers, upon graduation from a
public or state university or college, are hereby required to render two (2) years
of rural medical services under the joint supervision of the Department of Health
(DOH), and the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC). The rendition of
rural service shall be a prerequisite for medical health employment or private
medical practice.

Section 2. No medical worker shall be allowed to engage in medical health
employment or private medical practice unless he or she has been certified by the
local health board concerned to have rendered two years of rural medical service.

Section 3. Medical workers shall receive reasonable salaries, allowances, and
such other incentives as may be allowed by law.

Section 4. After the effectivity of this Act, all students desiring to enroll in
medical courses in public or state colleges and universities shall sign a contract
stating their willingness to render two years of rural medical service upon
graduation.

Section 5. For the effective implementation of this Act, the Department of Health
(DOH), and the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) and the Department
of Interior and Local Government (DILG) shall issue the necessary rules and
regulations within sixty (60) days from the approval of this Act.

Section 6. The funds necessary for the implementation of this Act shall be
charged to the appropriations for the Department of Health (DOH) under the
General Appropriations Act.


Section 7. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the
Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,