The purpose of this Act is to establish programs in the Illinois Department of Public Health to upgrade health care services for all citizens of the State, to increase access, and to reduce health care disparities by providing grants to residency programs, scholarships to medical students, and a loan repayment program for eligible health care providers who will agree to practice in areas of the State demonstrating the greatest need for more professional medical care. The programs shall encourage eligible health care providers to locate in areas where health manpower shortages exist and to increase the total number of eligible health care providers in the State.