The Marcos administration has allocated close to ₱1 billion in next year’s proposed budget to train more doctors and allied health professionals who will serve in underserved areas nationwide.
According to Malacañang, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has set aside ₱997.71 million under the 2026 National Expenditure Program to support the government’s Doktor Para sa Bayan initiative. Palace Press Officer Claire Castro announced the allocation during a briefing in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Of the total amount, ₱909.99 million will be directed to the Commission on Higher Education’s (CHED) Medical Scholarship and Return Service Program, while ₱87.71 million will go to the Department of Health’s (DOH) Pre-Service Scholarship Program.
Castro said the funding will cover 245 medical scholars, 122 medical technology scholars, and 104 pharmacy scholars—each required to serve in public health institutions after graduation.
“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, as quoted by the Philippine News Agency.
Enacted in 2020, the Doktor Para sa Bayan Act institutionalized a national medical scholarship program for qualified students in both public and private institutions, mandating graduates to serve in government hospitals and rural health facilities upon passing the licensure examination.
