Budget remedy needed as healthcare flatlines
The sector is grappling with rising costs, understaffing and growing demand from middle-
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Borneo Post
22 minutes ago
- Borneo Post
Doctors shortage in East M'sia to worsen without pay reform, says Dr Sim
Dr Sim says many doctors are burdened by rising living costs despite the stronger ringgit. – Photo by Chimon Upon KUCHING (July 12): Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian has reiterated calls for improved remuneration for Malaysian doctors, warning that continued brain drain – especially from Sabah and Sarawak – could place greater strain on the national healthcare system. 'We cannot continue with the notion that 'we are cheap and good'. In 2025, we are good, but we need to be paid better,' he said in a Facebook post. Dr Sim was responding to Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) president and fellow Sarawakian, Dato Dr Kalwinder Singh Khaira, who recently urged the federal government to speed up reforms in the national health service. Dr Khaira warned that failure to act could intensify the outflow of Malaysian doctors to neighbouring countries, which offer far more attractive recruitment packages. Highlighting the long training path for doctors – six years of university and at least seven more to specialise – Dr Sim said many are burdened by rising living costs despite the stronger ringgit. 'Medicine may be a noble calling, but we must be realistic. Doctors have families to support, children to educate, and loans to repay, despite the strengthening ringgit,' he stressed. He pointed to Sarawak's rapidly aging population and declining birth rate, noting that the state is expected to become Malaysia's first aging society by 2028, making access to healthcare professionals more critical than ever. Based on Malaysian standards, Sarawak should have around 6,000 doctors by 2025. However, Dr Sim revealed the state currently only has 4,000, and relies heavily on 2,000 doctors from Peninsular Malaysia. Even with Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) producing 150 medical graduates a year, he estimated it would take over a decade for Sarawak to meet the national doctor-to-population ratio. 'Given the financial opportunities, the training opportunities, the job satisfaction opportunities (offered in other countries), the brain drain to other countries will get worse and worse especially from Sabah and Sarawak unless we act now and pay better,' he cautioned. Dr Sim also noted that the Sarawak government, under Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, recognises the need for better civil service pay. This is reflected in the two-month year-end bonus for 2024 and the continued monthly allowances for Sarawak civil servants in 2025. As State Minister for Public Health, Housing and Local Government, Dr Sim pledged to continue advocating for solutions, including working closely with the federal Ministry of Health on advancing Sarawak's health autonomy under Article 95(C) of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63). The legal provision was amended in 2021 to allow greater devolution of powers to Sarawak. He said the impact of these efforts would only become visible within the next five to ten years. brain drain doctors shortage Dr Sim Kui Hian east malaysia lead pay reform
New Straits Times
2 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Malaysia cannot bar medical professionals from working abroad, says Dzulkefly
KUALA LUMPUR: The Health Ministry has clarified that there are no legal restrictions preventing Malaysian medical professionals from seeking employment overseas, including in neighbouring countries such as Singapore. Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said cross-border employment within Asean is permitted under the Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) and the Asean Framework Agreement on Services (AFAS), to which Malaysia is a signatory. "The government does not have the legal authority to prohibit medical practitioners, including nurses, from working abroad. "Similarly, companies registered with the Department of Labour are permitted to recruit and place workers," he told reporters today. Dzulkefly was speaking at the national level Gotong Royong Mega Perangi Aedes 1.0 campaign organised by the ministry at PPR Seri Kota in Bandar Tun Razak. Also present during the clean-up activity were the ministry's secretary general Datuk Seri Suriani Ahmad and Bandar Tun Razak member of parliament Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail. Dzulkefly's remarks follow public concern over Singapore's recent recruitment drive targeting Malaysian healthcare professionals, including nurses, doctors and general practitioners. The move went viral after a post on Threads showed that Singapore's Ministry of Health had conducted in-person interviews in Kuala Lumpur, offering attractive remuneration packages to shortlisted candidates. The job offers included a starting salary of about SGD110,000 (RM385,000) per year, excluding monthly housing allowances, insurance coverage and a range of additional benefits. The initiative is believed to be part of Singapore's ongoing efforts to address manpower shortages in the healthcare sector by attracting skilled professionals from across the region. While acknowledging the right of healthcare professionals to seek better opportunities, Dzulkefly reaffirmed the government's commitment to retaining skilled talent within the national healthcare system, including doctors, specialists and experienced nurses. "We are stepping up efforts to curb the outflow of healthcare workers and will continue to enhance incentives and improve the competitiveness of the local working environment. "We can also assure that reforms to address systemic issues, including secure career pathways and better compensation, are already underway to make the healthcare sector more appealing," he said.
The Sun
3 hours ago
- The Sun
MOH expedites permanent roles for doctors to retain healthcare talent
KUALA LUMPUR: The Health Ministry has reiterated its focus on retaining doctors and healthcare workers in Malaysia's public sector, even as it acknowledges the lack of legal power to stop them from pursuing opportunities abroad. Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad emphasised ongoing efforts to incentivise staff to remain, including accelerating permanent placements for contract doctors. He clarified that while international recruitment falls under regional labour agreements, the ministry is prioritising local retention. 'We cannot block cross-border recruitment, it's an individual right. This is also aligned with the Mutual Recognition Arrangement and the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Services,' he said during the ASEAN Dengue Day 2025 event. The statement follows reports of Singaporean hospitals offering high salaries to attract Malaysian medical professionals. A recruitment drive targeting doctors is reportedly scheduled next month at a local hotel. Dzulkefly assured that the ministry is fast-tracking permanent roles for contract doctors to address staffing shortages. 'We won't delay; we are expediting the process to absorb contract workers into permanent roles. As soon as there are vacancies, we will act,' he said. The contract system was initially implemented to manage an influx of medical graduates, but with numbers now declining, Dzulkefly confirmed sufficient vacancies for permanent hires. - Bernama
