By Lane Afable; News Editor
The implementation of the Doktor Para sa Bayan Act, principally authored by Senate Minority Leader Vicente C. Sotto III, gets P186 million in funding under the 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA) to support aspiring doctors studying in state-run medical schools nationwide.
Sotto welcomed the continued funding support for the program, emphasizing the need to help deserving medical students complete their education despite financial challenges.
“I take this very positively and support this completely, as many medical students want to finish their education but lack the financial capability to do so,” Sotto said.
At present, there are at least 25 state universities and colleges (SUCs) across the country offering Doctor of Medicine programs.
According to Sotto, the increased allocation under the 2026 national budget will prioritize students who are nearing the completion of their medical studies.
“The budget this year has been increased for medical students under the 2026 General Appropriations Law, with prioritization for those who are almost complete with their studies,” he added.
The senator earlier envisioned accommodating around 40 medical scholars per SUC through the program’s implementation.
With the additional funding, the program is expected to generate 648 new scholars nationwide.
Sotto underscored the urgency of strengthening the country’s healthcare workforce, particularly in underserved and far-flung provinces.
“Kailangang-kailangan talaga ito dahil sa kakulangan ng mga doktor, nars, at medical practitioners sa bansa, lalung-lalo na sa mga malalayo o karatig-probinsya,” Sotto concluded.
