The government has allotted nearly ₱1 billion in next year’s budget to expand the number of doctors and health professionals serving underserved communities, Malacañang announced Monday.
During a press briefing at the ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said ₱997.71 million has been earmarked under the proposed 2026 National Expenditure Program for the Doktor Para sa Bayan program.
Of this amount, ₱909.99 million will fund the Commission on Higher Education’s Medical Scholarship and Return Service Program, while ₱87.71 million will go to the Department of Health’s Pre-Service Scholarship Program, according to Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman’s report.
The allocation will support 245 medical scholars, 122 medical technology scholars, and 104 pharmacy scholars, the Palace said.
“Ang hakbang na ito ng Pangulo ay patunay lamang na ang Marcos administration ay nakatuon sa pagpapatibay ng healthcare system sa bansa at upang mabigyan ng atensyon medikal ang lubos na nangangailangan sa anumang sulok ng bansa,” Castro said.
The Doktor Para sa Bayan Act, enacted in 2020, offers scholarships to qualified medical students in both public and private schools, requiring graduates to serve in the country’s public health system after obtaining their medical license.