THE GOVERNMENT has allotted  P186 million this year to fund scholarships for aspiring doctors, particularly those who cannot afford medical education, a lawmaker said Monday.

House of Representatives of the Philippines Minority Leader Marcelino Libanan said the allocation is intended for the Medical Scholarship and Return Service Program in state universities and colleges (SUCs) under the 2026 General Appropriations Law.

“By financially supporting deserving medical students, especially those from underserved communities, we are also helping address the chronic shortage of doctors in far-flung and impoverished areas,” Libanan said in a statement.

“We want more Filipino physicians to serve where they are needed most,” he added.

The Doctor of Medicine scholarship program will be offered in at least 25 SUCs nationwide, including University of the Philippines Manila, Mindanao State University campuses, Bicol University, and West Visayas State University, among others.

Libanan, a lawyer who also holds a degree in medical technology, has long advocated expanding access to state-subsidized medical education. He also authored a bill seeking to establish a College of Medicine at Eastern Samar State University in Borongan City, which was recently approved on third and final reading by the House.

The scholarship program is open to qualified Filipino students who are willing to complete a required return service after graduation. Priority will be given to applicants from areas with low doctor-to-population ratios, high poverty incidence, and those in geographically isolated or conflict-affected communities.

Applicants must come from low-income families earning less than P450,000 annually, or belong to indigenous groups, or be dependents of community health volunteers.

To qualify, applicants must be Filipino citizens who are graduating from or have completed a pre-med course, obtain the required National Medical Admission Test score set by the Commission on Higher Education, and meet the admission requirements of their chosen SUC.