THE national government has allocated P1.1 billion for the Medical Scholarship and Return Service (MSRS) program under the 2026 General Appropriations Act.
The figure is the highest allocation the program has received since its inception.
Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, said the funding surpasses the P1 billion mark for the first time. The amount will cover 1,000 new medical scholars while sustaining financial support for 2,869 existing scholars.
Gatchalian said the increased allocation underscores the government’s commitment to strengthening the country’s public health workforce.
“Part of this year’s historic education fund is the scholarship for the next generation of doctors. This is essential to address the shortage of doctors and ensure adequate medical services for every Filipino,” he said.
The MSRS was institutionalized under RA 11509, also known as the Doktor Para sa Bayan Act, which provides medical scholarships to qualified students. The law prioritizes enrollees in state universities and colleges (SUCs) offering medical programs, as well as students in partner private higher education institutions in provinces where no SUC offers a Doctor of Medicine degree.
Under the program, scholars receive support for tuition, fees, and other educational expenses. In return, graduates who pass the Physician Licensure Examination must render service in the public health system — serving at least one year for every year they received the scholarship.
Lawmakers cited the country’s persistent shortage and uneven distribution of physicians, particularly in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas, as the rationale for expanding the program. The Department of Health has previously reported gaps in doctor-to-population ratios in several provinces, underscoring the need for sustained investments in medical education.
