Thursday, October 05, 2006 Health, charity offices offer scholarship for aspiring doctors
THE scholarship project of the Department of Health (DOH) for those who want to become a doctor proved to be successful, with the region producing 10 scholars out of the 50 candidates nationwide.
Health Regional Director Myrna Cabotaje said the project intends to encourage Filipino doctors to stay in the Philippines and extend health care, especially to indigents in areas that do not have enough doctors.
"We cannot prevent them (doctors) from leaving," Cabotaje explained but said the scholarship, called "Pinoy MD," could open the gates for aspiring doctors to stay and work in the Philippines.
The demand for nurses abroad and the high salary reportedly prompted doctors to take up nursing as a second course. This however resulted in a drain in the number of doctors here, jeopardizing the present health care system.
In response, the DOH, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) and medical schools launched a scholarship where the PCSO shoulders 50 percent of expenses for books, clothing allowance, while the school shoulders part of the tuition.
Indigenous peoples and children of health workers, of DOH employees and of government employees belonging to a select income bracket, aged 35 years old and a graduate of a science course, could avail of the scholarship program. (RO)
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