THE government’s latest move to fund medical education is big news in a country where almost every doctor wants to fly away. The 2026 General Appropriations Act allocates P1.1-B to the Medical Scholarship and Return Service (MSRS) program—the highest ever since its inception. It marks a milestone: 1,000 new medical scholars will enter the pipeline, while 2,869 current scholars will continue to receive support. When Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian calls this “historic,” he’s signaling progress. Yes, a record bump in funding for medical scholarships is welcome, but will it be enough to keep doctors serving our communities after graduation? Will it be enough to fix a health system bending under shortage, uneven distribution, and stubbornly low pay?
Context matters. The Doktor Para sa Bayan Act (RA 11509) institutionalizes the MSRS, steering funds to ease the doctor shortage, expand access to medical services, and prioritize students in state universities and colleges (SUCs) offering medicine, plus partner private institutions in regions where no SUC offers the Doctor of Medicine. Think of the funds as a bridge linking medical education to public service, each funded year unlocking a year of hands-on impact in their communities.
I think the rationale is compelling from the macro lens. Our country bears a persistent shortage of physicians, and even when they exist, distribution is far from even. Rural provinces and remote towns repeatedly report gaps in doctor-to-population ratios. The MSRS is a targeted attempt to train more doctors with a commitment to serve where they are most needed.
I know that an extra 1,000 scholars sounds significant on paper, but it is still a drop in the ocean facing nationwide demand. The Philippines has tens of thousands of medical students over the years, and the journey from medical school to practice is long and tough. Short-term gains in enrollment do not automatically translate into long-term retention, or even room to stretch the capacity of the health system to absorb these new graduates. Even as more scholars are funded, the structural realities of the profession continue to push graduates toward more rewarding opportunities.
For many doctors in the public sector, their salaries lag behind private practice and opportunities overseas. The attraction to higher earnings, better benefits, and more predictable schedules is strong, even for those with a sense of public duty. Public facilities in underserved areas face staffing challenges, aging infrastructure, and sometimes limited resources, which compound the stress. The MSRS helps with education costs, but without parallel improvements in compensation, hazard pay where appropriate, and career progression, many new scholars may not choose to remain after their obligated service. It is commendable, but it is not, by itself, the solution to the broader issues that drive doctors away from public service.
Lawmakers shall pair them with salaries that respect the profession, incentives that make rural service sustainable, and structural supports that enable doctors to practice with competence, dignity, and hope. Only then can we turn a historic funding figure into lasting health gains for every Filipino. The nation deserves doctors who are not only trained but also retained, valued, and supported to serve wherever they are needed.|
