Medical scholars should get as much as PMA cadets – Recto

MANILA, Philippines – Senator Ralph Recto on Friday, March 21, urged the government to spend as much on the scholarship of medical students as it would on training future soldiers.

The Senate President Pro Tempore highlighted the difference between government allocations for scholars of the Department of Health’s (DOH) Pinoy MD program and for the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) .

On average, he said, the PMA spends P2.8 million per graduate. This means P700,000 per year for 4 years. In comparison, Pinoy MD only has P147,800 each per year for each scholar for 4 years, or a total of P591,200.

This amount, he said, is only a fraction of what a medical student actually needs, especially as tuition in Metro Manila’s medical schools can go as high as P120,000 for one semester.

The Pinoy MD program is a medical scholarship grant for indigenous people, local and barangay health workers, and DOH employees or their children. 

PMA budget

“Perhaps we can use the PMA expenditures as guide in increasing our Pinoy MD fund beginning next year,” Recto said.

The 2014 budget for DOH’s program is at P57.5 million, while the military school has a budget of P594 million.

PMA’s budget can still go up to P775 million, Recto said, if funds for Miscellaneous Personnel Benefits Fund (P175 million) as well as retirement and life insurance premiums (P5 million) are added to it.

Recto said a PMA cadet receives a basic monthly pay of P27,425, with an additional P6,300-allowance he/she “fully deserves” as a Probationary 2nd Lieutenant.

From 2010-2013, the government allocated P2.438 billion for PMA, with the school producing a total of 862 graduates. This means the school spends P2.8 million per graduate – P2.3 million, if expenses of drop-outs are to be included.

“Hopefully this figure can inspire a readjustment of Pinoy MD Scholarship benefits. The cost of training people who’ll keep us safe must not be far behind from what it costs to train the people who’ll keep us healthy,” he said.

More doctors

By providing the same opportunities given to PMA students, the government can encourage more poor but deserving young people to study medicine and serve the country afterwards.

“Many bright students have the brains and the heart to become good doctors but poverty is what’s keeping them from realizing their dreams,” he said.

As of 2010, only 2,682 government doctors serve more than 90 million Filipinos, Recto added.

This year, the Philippine population is expected to hit 100 million, but the Professional Regulation Commission listed only about 70,000 licensed doctors at present, or 7 doctors for every 10,000 population. (READ: Where are the health workers?)

Recto said with a growing and aging population, the country needs more doctors. But Health Secretary Enrique Ona earlier noted there is no shortage of doctors in the country, only maldistribution. (READ: Shortage? Doctors in PH ‘enough’ – Ona) – Jee Geronimo/Rappler.com