Section 12Sec./Art. 12

Medical Schools and Plantilla Positions.- In order to have a holistic solution and address the scarcity of doctors in the country, the CHED, in coordination with the DOH, shall ensure that each region shall have at least one (1) medical school. For this purpose, the CHED shall also streamline the requirements for the application for authority to offer Doctor of Medicine Program.

The CHED and DOH shall also issue the appropriate guidelines within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act to facilitate the partnership between SUCs and DOH hospitals with a view of increasing the number of medical schools throughout the country with one (1) region having at least one (1) state-operated medical school:Provided,That within three (3) years from the effectivity of this Act, there shall be a state-operated medical school in at least half of the regions with ni existing state-operated medical school:Provided, finally,That within five (5) years from the effectivity of this Act, there shall be at least one (1) state-operated medical school in each region in the country.

In addition, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), DOH, and local govenrment units (LGUs) where applicable, shall ensure that all scholars required to render return service under this Act shall be appointed to appropriate plantilla positions commensurate to their merit and fitness.