TACLOBAN CITY – The provincial government of Northern Samar is reopening applications for its medical scholarship program, specifically targeting fourth-year medical students, post-graduate interns (PGIs), and reviewees who are residents of the province.
The Northern Samar Medical Scholarship Board will begin accepting applications on October 14, 2024.
To qualify for the scholarship, applicants must meet the following criteria: a Filipino citizen and resident of Northern Samar; no pending administrative or criminal cases; good moral character, certified by the dean of the last school attended; physically and mentally fit; certified by a government physician; not more than 35 years old for incoming first-year students; and not more than 45 years old for upperclassmen
The applicant must have passed the National Medical Admission Test (NMAT) with a score of at least 50% and currently enrolled in a medical degree program at a school accredited by the Commission on Higher Education.
The applicant should not also be a related by affinity or consanguinity within the fourth civil degree to any owner of a pharmacy or laboratory operating in Northern Samar.
Successful applicants will receive a scholarship benefit package that includes tuition and review fees, along with allowances for living expenses, books, and uniforms.
Fourth-year medical students are entitled to a tuition fees of up to P100,000 per semester, paid directly to the school; stipend of P35,000 per semester; book allowance of P30,000 per semester; and a uniform allowance of P5,000 per semester.
Also, review class participants for the Medical Licensure Examination are eligible for: review fees of up to P60,000, paid to the review center; stipend of P35,000; book allowance of P30,000; and uniform allowance of P5,000.
Among the needed documents include a certified true copy of NMAT result (at least 50%); Philippine Statistics Authority authenticated birth certificate; clearance from the National Bureau of Investigation; voter’s certificate from the Commission on Elections; certificate of registration or other proof of enrollment; and certified true copy of transcript of records for the pre-medical course.
For indigents include certificate of indigency issued by the MSWDO where the applicant’s parent resides; medical certificate issued by a government physician within the last three months; drug test result within the last three months; psychological test result within the last 12 months; and certificate of good moral character from the last attended school.
Since the program was initiated by the provincial government in 2020, it has already accepted 22 scholars, according to John Allen Berbon, Chief of the Provincial Information Office.
“So far, we have four doctors already serving the province,” Berbon added.
Beneficiaries of the scholarship program will be required to provide service in government hospitals in the province after becoming licensed doctors, depending on the number of years they availed of the program.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
