MANILA – A state scholarship will encourage more medical students, which may eventually solve the shortage of doctors in the country, according to Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara.
Angara was pushing for the immediate passage of Senate Bill 1157, which provides for the creation of a medical scholarship program.
Under his bill, Angara said, the program will help many medical students pay for their tuition and other school fess.
It shall also cover allowances for books, supplies and equipment, clothing and uniform, housing accommodation, and transportation, and other related miscellaneous-living allowances.
The Philippines currently has 2.3 health care workers for every 10,000 citizens, Angara said, cited the data from the Philippine College of Physicians.
“Three out of five Filipinos die without seeing a doctor, nurse or any other allied health professional,” he said. “Hindi na ho biro ang laki ng kakulangan ng doktor sa bansa.”
“Truly alarming” was how Angara described the “lack and maldistribution of doctors and health care Filipino professionals.”
“Most doctors and medical specialists are concentrated in urban centers and larger municipalities, leaving far-flung communities largely unserved.”
Under the scholarship program, at least one beneficiary shall be accepted from every Philippine province.
The number of scholars per province shall depend on the number of doctors every for covered province, as determined by the Department of Health, stated the bill.
According to the World Health Organization, a minimum of 23 doctors, nurses and midwives per 10,000 population is the ideal ratio to deliver essential health services.
Moreover Angara lamented the insufficient number of psychiatrists and therapists in the country.
The Philippines has only 490 psychiatrists, or one psychiatrist per 250,000 Filipinos – a far cry from the standard ratio of 1 per 50,000 people – he said.
“Minsan nga umaabot ng anim na buwan bago makapagpa-schedule ng appointment sa isang espesyalista dito sa Manila,” said Angara, adding that this is especially difficult for people from the hinterlands.
Scholars are required to serve their provincial hospital for at least five years upon passing the medical board examination, the bill stated.
This may help address the exodus of Filipino doctors, Angara explained.
“Dahil sobrang mahal mag-aral sa med school, mas pinipili nilang magtrabaho sa ibang bansa kung saan doble o triple ang kita para lang mabawi ang ginastos sa pag-aaral,” he said.
He added: “Our bill aims to give free medical education so that our graduates will choose to stay in the country and serve their provinces.
“Our goal is to improve access to quality health care and ensure the availability of doctors in all parts of the country.”/PN
