By David Vera
Samar State University (SSU) in Catbalogan City has selected 22 students as the first recipients of its provincial government-funded medical scholarship program. Established through Provincial Ordinance No. 17-453-24, the initiative aims to address the shortage of medical professionals in rural areas under the “Doktor Para sa Bayan” Act (Republic Act No. 11509).
The scholarship covers full tuition, allowances for books, uniforms, accommodations, internship fees, board review and licensure exam costs, annual medical insurance, and other education-related expenses. In exchange, the scholars must complete a return service agreement, working in rural health units, district hospitals, or the provincial hospital after earning their medical degrees and passing the Physician Licensure Examination.
The students will enroll at SSU’s Samar Island Institute of Medicine (SIIM), which recently became the 20th public medical school in the country and the first in Eastern Visayas to offer a Doctor of Medicine program. This expansion is aligned with the objectives of the “Doktor Para sa Bayan” Act, which seeks to provide opportunities for deserving students to pursue medical education and serve underserved communities.