THE SENATE has approved on second reading a bill which will provide financial assistance and establish medical scholarships and return service agreements for deserving students.

Senate Bill 1520 or the ‘Doktor Para sa Bayan Bill’ seeks to cover medical students’ tuition and other school fees.

The bill also would cover required textbooks, uniform, living allowances, internship fees, medical board review fees, licensure fees and annual medical insurance.

It would also establish public medical schools in 10 regions of the country without their own institutions to make the doctor of medicine program more accessible to Filipinos.

A mandatory return service agreement would require scholars to serve in government hospitals in their province or in underserved areas determined by the Department of Health.