03/08/2021
๐๐ญ๐๐ญ๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐๐ฎ๐ฉ๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ฌ๐ก๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐จ๐ ๐ฆ๐จ๐ซ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ข๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐ก๐จ๐จ๐ฅ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐ข๐ง๐๐๐ง๐๐จ
The Republic Act 11509, also known as the โDoktor Para sa Bayan Actโ, was signed last year to provide medical scholarships and return service programs to deserving medical students. In accordance with this, Mindanao SUCs have bared their plans to create their respective Doctor of Medicine programs. Among these SUCs are the University of Southeastern Philippines in Tagum City, Mindanao State University College of Medicine extension campus in General Santos City, West Mindanao State University in Zamboanga City, University of Southern Mindanao in Kabacan, Cotabato, and University of the Philippines College of Medicine in Davao City.
APMC-SN Mindanao warmly welcomes these initiatives, and we look forward to working with their student councils. APMC-SN Mindanao believes that by providing deserving students the opportunity to study medicine, doctors are made more available, and communities thrive.
We recognize that the rising cost of medical education is a hindrance to many aspiring students in pursuing medical education. We believe that all deserving and qualified medical students should be guaranteed opportunities to pursue quality medical education. Thus, we emphasize the responsibility of the government to provide equitable education to all its citizens. With a significant shortage and maldistribution of medical doctors, it is time Mindanao strengthened its medical workforce.
Furthermore, we urge both the House of Representatives and the Senate to work together to increase the budget allocation to ensure the establishment and operations of Mindanao state medical schools. Likewise, local and national governments must continue collaborating with state medical schools to continue producing medical doctors for Mindanao.
References:
[1] Parrocha, A. (2021, Jan 5) Duterte signs Doktor Para sa Bayan Act. Philippine News Agency, retrieved from: https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1126403
[2] Patches, R. (2021, April 16) University in Kabacan, Cotabato, offers medicine program, Newsline, retrieved from: https://newsline.ph/top-stories/2021/04/16/university-in-kabacan-cotabato-offers-medicine-program/
[3] USeP website blog (2018, May 28) USeP, DRMC ink MOA, USeP Official Website, retrieved from https://www.usep.edu.ph/blog/2018/05/28/usep-drmc-ink-moa/
[4] Pareno, R. (2021, May 13) WMSU opens first public medical school in Western Mindanao, PhilStar, retrieved from: https://www.philstar.com/nation/2021/05/13/2097987/wmsu-opens-first-public-medical-school-western-mindanao
[5] Mindanews (2019, March 7) MSU to build College of Medicine campus in GenSan, Mindanews, retrieved from: https://www.mindanews.com/top-stories/2019/03/msu-to-build-college-of-medicine-campus-in-gensan/
[6] Colina, Antonio IV (2021, April 17) Construction of 100-bed city hospital in UP Mindanao campus to start this year, Mindanews, retrieved from: https://www.mindanews.com/top-stories/2021/04/construction-of-100-bed-city-hospital-in-up-mindanao-campus-to-start-this-year/
