Doktor Para sa Bayan Act

Case Overview and Summary

Summary of the Doktor Para sa Bayan Act

Establishment of Medical Scholarship and Return Service Program (Section 3):
- Establishes a Medical Scholarship and Return Service (MSRS) Program for deserving students in state universities and colleges (SUCs) or partner private higher education institutions (PHEIs).
- Prioritizes applicants from municipalities without government physicians.

Coverage and Student Financial Assistance (Section 4):
- Covers Filipino students pursuing a degree in Doctor of Medicine.
- Provides free tuition, book allowance, uniform allowance, accommodation allowance, transportation allowance, internship fees, board review fees, licensure fees, medical insurance, and other miscellaneous allowances.

Qualification Requirements (Section 5):
- Filipino citizen residing in the Philippines.
- Graduate of an appropriate undergraduate program or direct entrant to the Integrated Liberal Arts and Medicine (INTARMED) Program.
- Passed entrance examinations, complied with admission requirements, and obtained the required National Medical Admission Test (NMAT) score.

Conditions for Grant of Scholarship (Section 6):
- Sign an agreement stating the terms and conditions.
- Carry the full load of subjects per semester and finish the program within the prescribed timeframe.
- Undertake mandatory internship upon graduation.
- Take the board examination within one year after completing the internship.
- Render return service as provided in Section 8.

Disqualifications (Section 7):
- Accepting another scholarship while enjoying benefits under this Act.
- Failing to meet academic requirements or complete the course without valid cause.
- Failing to obtain a passing grade in the Physician Licensure Examination within five years after completing the internship.
- Committing gross misconduct that would bring significant damage.

Mandatory Return Service and Integration (Section 8):
- Serve in a government public health office, hospital, or accredited facility in the scholar's hometown, home province, or underserved municipality for at least one year for every scholarship year availed.
- Render service within six years (four-year program) or seven years (five-year program) after passing the licensure examination.
- Receive appropriate salaries and benefits for service rendered.

Sanctions (Section 9):
- Pay two times the full cost of scholarship and expenses for failing or refusing to comply with the mandatory return service.
- Denial of license renewal by the Professional Regulation Commission in case of non-payment.

Harmonization of Nationally-Funded Medical Scholarship Programs (Section 10):
- All nationally-funded medical scholarship programs shall be harmonized, rationalized, and consolidated under the MSRS Program.

Training While Serving Mandatory Return Service (Section 11):
- CHED and DOH shall develop programs for continuous training of scholars while serving the mandatory return service.

Medical Schools and Plantilla Positions (Section 12):
- Ensure each region has at least one medical school, with at least one state-operated medical school in each region within five years.
- DBM, DOH, and LGUs shall ensure scholars are appointed to appropriate plantilla positions.

Roles and Responsibilities (Sections 13-16):
- Outlines the roles and responsibilities of CHED, SUCs, PHEIs, DOH, and LGUs in implementing the MSRS Program.

Funding (Section 17):
- Funding shall be charged against the current year's appropriation of participating SUCs, DOH, and CHED, and included in their annual budget.

Transitory Provisions (Section 18):
- Current scholars under existing medical scholarship programs shall automatically be eligible for benefits under this Act.

Joint Congressional Oversight Committee (Section 19):
- A Joint Congressional Oversight Committee shall oversee, monitor, and evaluate the implementation of this Act.

Determination of Number and Allocation of Scholars (Section 20):
- DOH and CHED shall determine the number and geographical allocation of scholars every five years, allocating at least one scholarship slot in municipalities without government physicians.

Implementing Rules and Regulations (Section 21):
- CHED and DOH shall formulate and issue the implementing rules and regulations within 120 days from the effectivity of this Act.

Separability Clause (Section 22), Repealing Clause (Section 23), and Effectivity (Section 24):
- Standard legal provisions for separability, repealing inconsistent laws, and the Act's effectivity date.