Northern Samar’s flagship program to encourage more doctors to serve its communities has gained an additional seven new scholars.
The new scholars, who comprise the program’s seventh batch, were formally admitted through the signing of scholarship contracts and awarding of certificates led by Governor Harris Ongchuan on August 25.
“Through the program, we hope to give our capable and deserving Northern Samar students the chance to pursue their dream to become doctors, while also keeping our commitment to strengthen our healthcare system in Northern Samar,” Ongchuan said in a statement.
Before the contract signing, the scholars were briefed on the terms and conditions of the program, including the financial assistance they will receive from the provincial government for their studies and board examination review.
Under the program, each scholar is entitled to up to PHP200,000 annually for tuition and other school fees, as well as PHP70,000 per semester, or PHP140,000 annually, for stipend, book, and uniform allowances.
The scholars were also reminded that maintaining their grants requires them to pass all subjects, comply with the requirements of their degree programs, and participate in immersion activities during summer breaks.
The immersion program is designed to familiarize the scholars with Northern Samar’s healthcare system and the realities of serving communities in the province.
The program, which was started in 2020 under the administration of former Governor Edwin Ongchuan, aims to encourage students from Northern Samar to serve their communities through their expertise, as well as alleviate the perennial issue of the shortage of medical staff serving its far-flung towns.
Since it was started, the scholarship program has supported 40 medical scholars, 10 of whom are now doctors in the service of their communities.
(With report from PNA/OpinYon News Team)
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