SENATOR Vicente Sotto III said implementation of the Doktor Para sa Bayan Act received an additional P186 million under the 2026 General Appropriations Act to support medical students enrolled in state-run universities.
Sotto, principal author of the measure, welcomed the increased allocation, saying it would help aspiring doctors to complete their studies despite financial difficulties.
“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.
The senator said the additional funding would prioritize students nearing completion of their Doctor of Medicine 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.
At least 25 state universities and colleges nationwide currently offer Doctor of Medicine programs, according to Sotto.
He said the program was originally designed to accommodate about 40 medical scholars per state university or college.
With the increased funding, the program is expected to produce 648 new scholars nationwide.
Sotto said the initiative is necessary to help address the country’s shortage of doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals, particularly in underserved and remote provinces.
“This is really necessary because of the shortage of doctors, nurses, and medical practitioners in the country, especially in remote or neighboring provinces,” he said.
