By Marivic A. Alcober

Tacloban City (18 October) -- The Department of Health (DOH) Eastern Visayas (DOH-EV) thru its Regional Director Benita N. Pastor in coordination with the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) headed by its Chief Lottery Operations Officer Zenaida Delantar, presently accepts applicants for the “Pinoy M.D.”, a joint Medical Scholarship Program of the PCSO and DOH for calendar year 2007-2008, which is also one of the priority programs of the Arroyo administration.

According to DOH-EV the program came to birth in response to our nation’s need for medical practitioners particularly in the rural areas wherein health care services are poor and inaccessible.

Applicants must be a Bachelor’s Degree graduate with at least 35 units in science subjects such as Chemistry, Natural Sciences, Physics, Microbiology and Genetics. His general average must not be lower than 2.50 or its equivalent and must not be more than 35 years old upon admission to the program.

Likewise, DOH further bared that the applicant must also have a Gross Family Income of not more than Php30,000.00 per month and must belong to any of the following sectors: indigenous people, Barangay Health Worker or their children, and government employee or their children. The applicant must also have an NMAT percentile score of 40 and above, must be of good moral character and must not have been charged administratively or criminally. Lastly, the applicant must be physically and mentally fit and must be willing to render two years of service to the government for every year of study.

The program which has duration of 10 years has for its scholarship package tuition fees, miscellaneous laboratory fees, living subsidy, lodging allowance, transportation allowance, and book and uniform allowance.

For calendar year 2007–2008, acceptance of application for the Pinoy M.D. Medical Scholarship Program shall be from September 25 to November 29, 2006.