The First Gentleman Foundation Inc. is extremely proud to have this scholarship project, the Bagong Doktor Para sa Bayan, now on its fourth year with a total of 102 medical scholars from the University of the Philippines, the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, and the West Visayas State University. This project has contributed and will continue to contribute greatly to the country’s medical needs with a new wave of “medical brain gain”, patriotic young Filipino doctors especially for our underserved communities.

The scholarship was opened to poor but deserving medical students in their 4th and 5th year of medical proper from the University of the Philippines, the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila and this year, the West Visayas State University. The scholarship has included tuition fees, allowances, uniforms, leather medical bags with complete medical equipment, internship allowances, pre-board allowances and board exam fee payment plus Senator Flavier books.

The Bagong Doktor project started in 2006. Instead of having a birthday party to celebrate his 60th birthday, the First Gentleman, in simple ceremonies, together with Senator Juan Flavier, presented the first batch of 20 scholars from University of the Philippines and Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila. In June 2007, the second batch of 20 scholars was presented, and the third batch of 22 scholars was presented last June 2008. The fourth and last batch of 38 scholars was presented on May 15, 2009.

“I am happy that Senator Flavier helped us in setting up the guidelines. This is his dream. This was also my dream,” said the First Gentleman at the launching of the project in June 2006.

“Now we are realizing not only both of our dreams, Senator Flavier, but also the dreams of these poor medical students who had also dreamt to be doctors,” he continued.

To the scholars, he said, “I was inspired by Senator Flavier’s dream of bringing new doctors to the far-flung areas and thought of pursuing this to provide better health care for the people, especially the poor. I am confident that you will be the solution to brain drain and now be the country’s brain gain instead. If you follow Flavier as a barrio doctor, you may even become a senator also one day,” the First Gentleman added.

Upon finishing their scholarship and passing the medical board, the young doctors are deployed to underserved communities by the Department of Health under its Doctors to the Barrios program. Twice yearly, the Foundation grants various incentives to barrio doctors who excel and have improved the lives of people in their assigned communities. The top prize is Php100,000.00 in cash.

Bagong Doktor para sa Bayan project has not only helped young but financially strapped medical students achieve their personal goals of becoming doctors. The project has also addressed the brain drain in this critical sector of our society.

Definitely, the 100 medical scholars of Bagong Doktor para sa Bayan project will be the country’s young heroes as barrio doctors, paving the way to lasting progress by bringing medical health service to remote communities.