Go backs medical scholarship bill

MANILA, Philippines — As the country faces higher demand for healthcare workers due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, Sen. Bong Go yesterday expressed his support for a bill establishing a Medical Scholarship and Return Service Program for Filipino students who want to serve the country in the field of medicine.

In a speech at the Senate regular session, Go, chairman of the Senate committee on health and demography, recounted his experience as  personal aide of President Duterte during his time as mayor of Davao City where he witnessed the need for a holistic approach when it comes to healthcare.

“We visited the sick, we helped the poor and mayor Duterte did his best to address the healthcare situation in Davao City, which is why you can see how progressive and responsive our healthcare is in the south,” Go said. 
“My duty came with many realizations, one of which is that addressing healthcare must be taken through a holistic approach,” he added.

The senator said the proposed measure, authored by Senate President Vicente Sotto III and sponsored by Sen. Joel Villanueva, would complement the Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa (BP2) Program of the government by ensuring more doctors in the provinces.

“This vision is also in line with the Balik Probinsya Program that I have proposed and was already approved by the executive department,T he added.
 Once we have more doctors in the provinces, we can assure Filipinos that a better life is waiting for them in the rural community,O he added.
The lawmaker cited the adequate supply of healthcare workers in the country, such as doctors and nurses, as one of the ways to promote a holistic approach in resolving the country s healthcare woes. 
sOne of the things that we should support is increasing healthcare workers in the country,O he said in Filipino, noting that doctor-to-patient ratio has remained severely strained. 
 Through the Medical Scholarship bill, students will be assisted financially, covering their tuition and other school fees, allowances for books, supplies and equipment, clothing or uniform, among others. This scholarship will cater to deserving Filipino students in state universities and colleges and in partnership with private higher education institutions in regions where there are no state universities or colleges offering medicine course,T Go said.