SENATOR Ralph Recto confirmed that at least 2,189 free medical education slots will be available in the 2023-2024 school year, raising the number of Doktor Para Sa Bayan scholars to 3,600.

“This is a 150% increase. We are supersizing the number of government scholars taking up medicine,” Recto said.

The expansion, from the current 1,411 slots, was made possible by a P917 million funding for the Commission on Higher Education.

Medical scholars can study in 16 state universities and 16 private schools in 15 regions.

“Lahat ng rehiyon meron, maliban sa Caraga at MiMaRoPa, pero magkakaroon din doon kung meron nang ma-accredit na medical schools,” the senator said.

Under the 2023 national budget, CHED was given P500 million for the Medical Scholarship and Return Service Program and P167 million as subsidy for Tuition Fees for Medical Students in State Universities and Colleges and P250 million start-up fund to outfit participating SUCs with equipment and facilities.

“But this almost P1 billion for CHED is only a part of the equation. The Department of Health is also running its own M.D. scholarship program,” Recto said.

The DOH’s Pre-Service Scholarship Program covers not only aspiring physicians but other allied health professionals.