The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) is calling for applicants who are interested to apply for the Medical Scholarship and Return Service (MSRS) Program for the Second Semester (AY 2021-2022) and First Semester (AY 2022-2023).
As per CHED’s Memorandum, the MSRS is under the amendments of “Republic Act (RA) No. 7722, otherwise known as the “Higher Education Act of 1994” and the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) No. 11509, otherwise known as the “Doktor Para Sa Bayan” Act.
The program will help deserving students pursue medical education and training and will eventually render services in government hospitals in their hometown or in any municipality in their home province or in any underserved municipality.
“The Commission on Higher Education (CHED), is now accepting applicants for the Medical Scholarship and Return Service (MSRS) program for Doctor of Medicine program for the second semester, AY 2021-2022 and first semester, AY 2022-2023,” the memorandum read.
The medical scholarship and return service program in state universities and colleges or partner private higher education institutions shall cover the following:
- Free tuition and other school fees
- Allowance for prescribed books, supplies and equipment
- Clothing or uniform allowance
- Allowance for dormitory or boarding house accommodation
- Transportation allowance
- Internship fees
- Medical board review fees
- Licensure fees
- Annual medical insurance
- Other education-related miscellaneous subsistence or living expenses
To be qualified, a student must be/have:
- A Filipino citizen living in the Philippines;
- A graduating student or a graduate of an appropriate undergraduate program identified as a prerequisite for a medicine degree from any higher educational institution recognized by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED);
- Passed the entrance examinations and complied with other requirements for admission into a medicine degree;
- Obtained a National Medical Admission test score mandated by CHED and required by the educational institution where the student intends to enroll in:
| Region | Name of Higher Education Institutions | Type |
| 1 | Mariano Marcos State University | SUC |
| University of Northern Philippines | SUC | |
| 2 | Cagayan State Univeristy | SUC |
| 3 | Angeles University Foundation | Private |
| 4 | Adventist University of the Philippines | Private |
| De La Salle Medical and Health Sciences Institute | Private | |
| 7 | Bicol University | SUC |
| 6 | West Visayas State University | SUC |
| Central Philippine University | Private | |
| University of St. La Salle | Private | |
| 8 | Cebu Normal University-Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center | SUC |
| 9 | University of the Philippines School of Health Sciences | SUC |
| 10 | Western Mindanao State University | SUC |
| 11 | Mindanao State University – Iligan | SUC |
| University of Southeastern Philippines | SUC | |
| Davao Medical School Foundation, Inc. | Private | |
| Brokenshire College, Inc. | Private | |
| 12 | Mindanao State University – General Santos | SUC |
| NCR | University of the Philippines Manila | SUC |
CHED Memorandum released by the Chairperson on March 4, 2022
Furthermore, the application and the submission of other supporting documents that will be evaluated by the concerned staff of CHED Regional Offices will be on:
- April 30, 2022, for the second semester of the academic year 2021-2022,
- April 31, 2022, for the first semester of the academic year 2022-2023 respectively.
Meanwhile, a student will lose the scholarship under the following circumstances:
- accepts another scholarship from another government or private entity;
- fails to meet the academic requirements or to complete the course within the period prescribed by the school he is enrolled in without valid cause;
- fails to obtain a passing grade in the physician licensure examination within five years from the time he has completed the mandatory internship program;
- commits gross misconduct.
Moreover, the scholar will join the public health and medical care system after completing the physician licensing exams and receiving a license to practice. The scholar will be expected to complete the following tasks:
- serve in a government public health office, government hospital, or any accredited government health facility in his hometown or in any underserved municipality closest to his hometown for at least one year for every scholarship year availed of;
- render the mandatory return service within six years from the time of passing the licensure examination for those who have availed of a four-year program and seven years for those who have availed of a five-year program.
A physician who participates in the program but fails or refuses to complete the mandated return service and integration will be charged two times the scholarship amount. A physician’s license will not be renewed if he does not pay the charges, however, this rule does not apply to individuals who have missed the compulsory return service due to a serious sickness.
Source : philippinego