Declaration of Policy
- The State aims to protect the people's health rights by balancing health workforce needs with population demands.
- Promotes social justice by expanding educational access for underprivileged students.
- Establishes a medical scholarship and return service program for deserving students.
- Ensures availability of doctors in underserved and difficult areas nationwide.
Establishment of the Medical Scholarship and Return Service Program (MSRS)
- MSRS is for deserving students in state universities and colleges (SUCs) or partner private higher education institutions (PHEIs) where SUCs do not offer medicine.
- The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) may designate multiple partner HEIs as needed.
- Priority is given to applicants from municipalities without government physicians to ensure coverage.
Coverage of the Scholarship
- Intended for deserving Filipino students pursuing Doctor of Medicine degrees.
- Covers: tuition/fees, allowances for books, supplies, uniforms, accommodation, transportation, internship, board review, licensing, medical insurance, and other miscellaneous education-related expenses.
Qualification Requirements
- Filipino citizen residing in the Philippines.
- Graduate or graduating student of appropriate undergraduate pre-med program, including INTARMED second-year completion.
- Passed entrance exams and met CHED/DOH requirements.
- Achieved required National Medical Admission Test (NMAT) scores.
Conditions for Grant of Scholarship
- Scholar must sign agreement with CHED and DOH.
- Full academic load must be maintained; no underloading.
- Must complete the medical program within prescribed timeframe with possible deferment or leave of absence for valid reasons.
- Must complete mandatory internship at SUC/PHEI base hospital or accredited public health facility.
- Must take the Physician Licensure Examination (PLE) within one year after internship.
- Return service obligation applies; failure to pass PLE within one year results in scholar bearing costs for retakes.
Grounds for Disqualification and Repayment
- Acceptance of another scholarship during the term.
- Academic failure or incomplete course without valid cause.
- Failure to pass PLE within five years from internship completion.
- Gross misconduct causing significant damage.
- Disqualified scholars must repay full costs and expenses incurred.
- Alternatively, they may fulfill prorated public health service or related work as an option.
Mandatory Return Service and Integration
- Scholars passing PLE will be integrated into public health service through DOH.
- Serve at least one year for every year of scholarship in government health offices or accredited facilities in their hometown or nearest underserved municipality.
- Return service must be completed within six or seven years depending on program length.
- DOH may require assignments during public health emergencies.
- Return service distinct from mandatory internship.
- Certain public service work and teaching can be credited toward return service.
- Scholars are entitled to appropriate civil service rank, salary, and benefits.
Sanctions for Non-Compliance
- Failure/refusal to serve mandated return service requires payment of twice the full scholarship cost.
- PRC will deny license renewal for nonpayment.
- Exceptions apply for severe illness preventing compliance.
Harmonization of Medical Scholarship Programs
- All nationally-funded medical scholarship programs will consolidate under the MSRS Program.
- UniFAST Board will coordinate this harmonization.
Continuous Training During Return Service
- CHED and DOH to develop training programs for scholars during mandatory return service.
Medical Schools and Plantilla Positions
- CHED and DOH to ensure each region has at least one medical school.
- Streamlined application for Doctor of Medicine programs.
- Partnerships between SUCs and DOH hospitals to increase medical schools.
- Targets: half regions with medical schools within 3 years; all regions within 5 years.
- DBM, DOH, and LGUs to appoint scholars to appropriate plantilla positions aligned with merit and fitness.
Role of the CHED
- Disseminate information and recruit scholars.
- Review and enhance medical curriculum standards.
- Coordinate continuous training and scholar integration.
- Develop policies, guidelines, and quality control.
- Monitor scholar academic progress and whereabouts after graduation.
- Ensure timely funding and recommend budget to DBM.
Role of SUCs and PHEIs
- Monitor scholar academic performance and counsel as needed.
- Coordinate timely release of allowances and fees.
- Report scholar performance to CHED.
- Assist in program information dissemination and recruitment.
- Enhance medical curricula.
- Recommend implementation improvements to CHED and DOH.
- Conduct tracer studies on graduates.
- Recommend budget needs.
Role of the DOH
- Assess and determine physician needs by municipality and region every 5 years.
- Ensure availability of Level III DOH hospitals for medical school partnership.
- Monitor scholar integration and performance during return service.
- Support recruitment and information dissemination.
- Develop career pathways for scholar-physicians.
- Coordinate with LGUs for scholar integration.
- Recommend creation of plantilla positions with appropriate salary grades.
Role of Local Government Units (LGUs)
- Provide support mechanisms ensuring safety and integration of assigned physicians.
- Coordinate with DOH and physicians to address community health requirements.
- Maintain counterpart funds and provide financial assistance subject to availability.
- Conduct local program information campaigns.
- Enforce laws supporting the MSRS Program.
- Assist scholars to finish the program on time.
Funding
- Initial funding charged against appropriations of participating SUCs, DOH, and CHED.
- Continuous funding included in annual General Appropriations Act.
Transitory Provisions
- Current scholars under DOH and CHED medical scholarships automatically eligible under this Act.
Joint Congressional Oversight Committee
- Composed of 5 members each from Senate and House, including committee chairs on Higher/Technical Education and Health.
- Responsible for overseeing, monitoring, and evaluating implementation.
Determination of Scholar Numbers and Allocation
- DOH and CHED assess shortages every 5 years and set scholar allocations accordingly.
- Priority to municipalities lacking government physicians and regions with low doctor-population ratios.
- DOH submits National Health Human Resource Master Plan and updates to Congress.
Implementing Rules and Regulations
- CHED and DOH, in coordination with relevant stakeholders, must issue rules within 120 days after effectivity.
- Benefits remain effective notwithstanding delay in implementing rules.
Separability Clause
- Invalidity of any part of the Act does not affect the remaining provisions.
Repealing Clause
- Laws inconsistent with this Act are modified or repealed accordingly.
Effectivity
- The Act takes effect 15 days after publication in the Official Gazette or two newspapers of general circulation.