Deputy Speaker Rufus Rodriguez hopes that potential healthcare workers maximize the Republic Act No. 11509, which was signed last December 23.
Otherwise known as the “Doktor Para sa Bayan Act”, the law provides scholarships for students who are eyeing to enter the field of medicine, but do not have the financial capacity to do so.
Rodrigues sees this beneficial to deprived communities.
“We are hoping that Republic Act No. 11509, which President Duterte signed last Dec. 23, will entice poor students in the provinces to pursue medical education through the program and eventually serve their community,” Rodriguez said. “It is also the answer to our lack of doctors in remote areas in the provinces, where many of the sick die without being attended to by a physician.”
The “Doktor Para sa Bayan Act” accepts at least one qualified scholar per town, which in turn will designate one doctor in each area in the country—no matter how secluded.
Aside from the basic expenses including tuition and other school fees, scholars will also be entitled to receive allowance for prescribed books, supplies and equipment, clothing or uniform, dormitory or boarding house accommodation, transportation, internship fees, medical review fees, licensure fees, other related miscellaneous living or subsistence expenses, and an annual medical insurance.
Photo Credit: Facebook/Rufus B. Rodriguez