Senate OKs Medical Scholarship Act On Final Reading

The Senate approved Medical Scholarship Act on the third and final reading.

Through a 22-0 vote, the Senate on Monday had officially approved Senate Bill 1520 or the Medical Scholarship Act on the third and final reading.

In a report on GMA News Online, the said bill — which referred to a measure that would provide free medical education — specifically sought to cover the tuition and other school fees of medical students, including the required textbooks, uniform, and living allowances, among others.

According to Senate President Vicente Sotto III, the said measure ccame at the most opportune time as the Philippines continued to battle against the devastating health impacts of coronavirus disease.

Sotto also said that the said law would help the healthcare system sector to be “better prepared for similar health emergencies in the future”.

READ ALSO: Senate Approves Alternative Learning System Act

Senator Sonny Angara, who was the principal author of the said measure, said in a separate statement that they believed that the country’s underprivileged but deserving students — who wished to provide for a better life for their respective families and to serve the Philippines and its people as physicians — should be given the opportunity to do so.

Angara also said that because it was through their dedicated service that the country’s healthcare system became more resilient, and gained a better chance of withstanding any pandemic.

On the other hand, the free medical education would be provided only if the scholars would enter a return service agreement in order to ensure that they would practice their profession in the country within a specific period after getting their professional license.

Previously, the Senate approved the Alternative Learning System Act or the Senate Bill 1365 last May 2020.

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