Health officials in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) have started a scholarship program to produce medical professionals for the region in anticipation of a bigger health response in the coming years.

On Monday afternoon, Dr. Bashary Latiph, BARMM health minister, and Dr. Liza Mariposque, the acting dean of the College of Medicine and medical director of the University of Southern Mindanao (USM) hospital, signed here the memorandum of agreement (MOA) for the Bangsamoro Medical Scholarship Program (BMSP).

The signing was held at the executive building of the state-run USM here.

“The MOH-BMSP has been conceptualized to mitigate, if not avert, the foreseen problems in the arena of healthcare delivery in the Bangsamoro region,” said Latiph in a phone interview on Tuesday.

He said the program seeks to provide scholarships to eligible and qualified students who have earned pre-medicine courses.

“North Cotabato province is close to the hearts of the Bangsamoro especially now that a big number of its villages have opted to join the fledgling BARMM,” Latiph added.

A total of 63 barangays from six towns of North Cotabato have joined the BARMM following the two-part 2019 plebiscite that established the expanded region.

Under the scholarship program, 30 slots are allotted for USM Kabacan; 15 slots for the Western Mindanao State University in Zamboanga City; and six slots for students taking up medicine courses at the Brokenshire College and School of Medicine in Davao City.

Latiph has advised interested students to visit them at the MOH-BARMM office in Cotabato City or browse at their office’s Facebook page for added details.

He said the program would start this school year 2021-2022. (PNA)