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Singapore's RM385k offer sparks brain drain fears
Singapore's RM385k offer sparks brain drain fears

New Straits Times

time11-07-2025

  • Health
  • New Straits Times

Singapore's RM385k offer sparks brain drain fears

KUALA LUMPUR: Singapore's bold move to hold an open interview session in the capital next month to recruit Malaysian doctors may further exacerbate the nation's healthcare brain drain. Senator Dr R.A. Lingeshwaran said the highly attractive annual package of RM385,000 – inclusive of accommodation and other benefits – could hasten the exodus of Malaysian medical professionals abroad. "What is even more alarming is that the eligibility criteria have been relaxed. Malaysian medical graduates may now apply without having to sit for a qualifying examination as was previously required. Even the cost of living in Singapore, including rent, is covered. "This offer is especially tempting for our young doctors who are still trying to find their footing within the domestic system," he said in a statement. The issue came to light after HartalDoktorKontrak, a medical advocacy account on X, shared a promotional poster for a recruitment session aimed at medical officers and professionals. The session is scheduled to take place at a prominent hotel in Kuala Lumpur next month. Dr Lingeshwaran, who formerly served as director of Hospital Sungai Bakap in Penang, stressed that the government must urgently introduce comprehensive reforms to the national medical career ecosystem to prevent further loss of local talent to foreign markets. "I acknowledge that this is not a new issue. It has been embedded in the system for many years. However, I believe that under the current Madani government led by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, the time is ripe for holistic reforms in the medical profession. "Many healthcare workers, from junior doctors to consultants, believe that this administration is more receptive and willing to listen. But these sentiments must be translated into immediate action – not mere rhetoric. "What has happened to the increases in on-call and specialist allowances announced in Budget 2025? We are already in July, and yet nothing has materialised. "This erodes trust in the system, especially when neighbouring countries are acting swiftly with competitive offers while we remain mired in bureaucracy and uncertainty," he said. Dr Lingeshwaran also said that nearly 40 per cent of graduates from the RCSI & UCD Malaysia Campus (RUMC) in Penang had chosen to complete their housemanship in Ireland or the United Kingdom, rather than serve in Malaysian public hospitals. RUMC – formerly known as Penang Medical College – is a branch campus of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and University College Dublin. It is recognised as a university by the Higher Education Ministry. "This is a clear sign that our young doctors are losing faith in the system. Statistics show that more than 6,400 medical officers resigned between 2019 and 2023. This is no longer a minor leak – it's a wave that threatens the resilience of our public healthcare system," said Dr Lingeshwaran. He said that the issue went beyond remuneration. "Young doctors seek certainty, support, and a secure future. Without urgent and structural reform, we risk losing even more high-quality professionals. "The time to act is now. We must demonstrate our appreciation for our doctors not just with words, but with action. Reform must be implemented – not delayed," he added.

Of Singapore's 'Talent Angels' snatching away already scarce Malaysian healthcare professionals
Of Singapore's 'Talent Angels' snatching away already scarce Malaysian healthcare professionals

Focus Malaysia

time10-07-2025

  • Health
  • Focus Malaysia

Of Singapore's 'Talent Angels' snatching away already scarce Malaysian healthcare professionals

LIKE it or not, Malaysia's Health Ministry (MOH) has found itself 'under siege' with the country's shortage of doctors and nurses not going away anytime soon but only bound to worsen with neighbouring Singapore coming to town with a major recruitment drive of the country's 'unappreciated' healthcare professionals. This has compelled some industry influencers to wonder if MOH has a counter-strategy under its sleeves or will end up being a sitting duck with Singapore's 'Talent Angels' lurking to further aggravate Malaysia's brain drain of healthcare professionals. 'Look at how aggressive Singapore is hunting our talents. This is no longer brain drain. This is brain hijack,' asserted Thromboxane A2 Inhibitor (@azmanrocks) on X. Look at how aggressive Singapore is hunting our talents. This is no longer brain drain. This is brain hijack. Now how aggressive are we in retaining our talents? Talent Angels are talent agents authorized by Singapore MOH Holdings, recruiters for Singapore government hospitals. — Thromboxane A2 Inhibitor (@azmanrocks) July 8, 2025 'Now how aggressive are we in retaining our talents? Talent Angels (recruitment firm) are talent agents authorised by Singapore's MOH Holdings Pte Ltd; they're recruiters for Singapore government hospitals.' The poster's concern has stemmed from a viral social media post by Hospital Kuala Lumpur medical officer Dr Amanda Elli who is deemed a KOL (key opinion leader) in the Malaysian healthcare industry. The medical aesthetician who is dubbed 'Dr Unicorn' has shared posters of the alluring job openings as medical officer with a starting salary of S$110,000/annum (RM365,367/annum) excluding fringe benefits, monthly accommodation allowance and insurance. 'Such a great opportunity to kumpul (collect) for at least two years before returning to Malaysia if homesick,' she shared. 'Application link on my IG profile's stories highlight (the said post has presumably been deleted while her Instagram page is inaccessible at the time of writing). Based on the exchanges that the post by @azmanrocks generated, it can be assumed Singapore's dire need for foreign healthcare talent can be attributed to two likelihoods: Singapore is building more hospitals to cater to its aging population following which Malaysians are easiest to recruit because of cultural and language similarities; and Many existing Singaporean and Filipino healthcare professionals have migrated to work in Australia (which working hours is only 38 hours/week) post the COVID-19 period. In another post, fellow healthcare influencer HartalDoktorKontrak (@HKontrak) sarcastically wished Malaysia's MOH and Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr. Dzulkefly Ahmad 'Good Luck'. Good luck @KKMPutrajaya @DrDzul — HartalDoktorKontrak (@HKontrak) July 8, 2025 Surely the salary disparity coupled with workload/working condition between what Malaysian nurses can expect to earn in Singapore is akin to comparing heaven and earth after taking into account the favourable Singapore dollar exchange rate. At the end of the day, it is an open market out there although one commenter appealed to 'those who studied under JPA/MARA/Zakat or whatever scholarship to serve their bond which are derived from taxpayers' money prior to leaving MOH or even to migrate abroad to seek greener pasture'. Another concluded that those wanting to migrate should he encouraged to do so to teach MOH a lesson 'about our underpaid doctors etc when living cost is rising every month but salary plateau for years'. – July 10, 2025

Malaysia's health ministry under fire for ‘lavish' Hari Raya celebration amid healthcare workers' woes
Malaysia's health ministry under fire for ‘lavish' Hari Raya celebration amid healthcare workers' woes

CNA

time24-04-2025

  • Health
  • CNA

Malaysia's health ministry under fire for ‘lavish' Hari Raya celebration amid healthcare workers' woes

PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia's Health Ministry has come under fire for organising a seemingly extravagant Hari Raya event on Tuesday (Apr 22) amid challenges faced by healthcare workers who are reportedly underpaid and overworked. Veteran Malaysian singers like Siti Nurhaliza and Jamal Abdillah performed at the Majlis Sambutan Hari Raya Aidilfitri 2025, which Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim attended. In the wake of the backlash, Siti Nurhaliza clarified on Instagram that she had performed for free, while Health Minister Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said he appreciated the concerns raised and acknowledged the 'criticism received is fair'. 'Let this be a reminder for all. We'll continue working to address systemic issues for our health workers,' he said in a post on X. Without naming the singer, Dzulkefly said one of them had performed without any payment to honour the prime minister as well as healthcare workers 'from the headquarters'. These workers, he said, included guests from other agencies, ministries, universities and the private sector that have been part of the country's healthcare system. The event has been criticised on social media by many healthcare workers including the contract doctors' group Hartal Doktor Kontrak, which called it 'tone deaf' in the face of the healthcare sector's struggles. 'Our OT (overtime) allowance is super low, claims get rejected all the time, (some) equipment cannot be purchased due to the lack of funding but at least the ministry's top management can have fun with famous artists,' Hartal Doktor Kontrak said in a Facebook post on Wednesday that garnered over 5,400 likes and 2,700 comments. 'It is disheartening to witness Malaysia's frontline health workers grappling with unpaid on-call claims, severe understaffing and perilous working conditions while the Ministry of Health chooses to host a lavish Hari Raya concert featuring celebrities,' netizen @ksampoh posted on X on Wednesday.

Health Minister Addresses KKM Raya Event Backlash
Health Minister Addresses KKM Raya Event Backlash

Rakyat Post

time24-04-2025

  • Health
  • Rakyat Post

Health Minister Addresses KKM Raya Event Backlash

Subscribe to our FREE A recent Hari Raya event hosted by the Ministry of Health (KKM) sparked criticism on social media after health minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad posted photos of the gathering on Facebook. Social activist group Hartal Doktor Kontrak made a sarcastic remark of the gathering, which featured Malaysia's top singers, Biduanita Negara Datuk Seri Siti Nurhaliza and Datuk Jamal Abdillah. READ MORE: Referring to the much-talked about issue of allowances among KKM medical staff, Hartal Doktor Kontrak said, 'If you want to reduce our allowances further, that's fine, as long as you invite more artists next year.' With the backlash having gone viral, Dr Dzulkefly responded to one made by senior consultant paediatrician Dr Amar Singh HSS on Twitter. The health minister assured that 'the person had graciously attended as a guest and performed without payment to honour PMX (Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) and our healthcare workers from HQ and facilities, including guests from other agencies, ministries, universities, private sectors that have been part of the country's healthcare ecosystem.' While he did not mention who 'the person' was by name, Dr Dzulkefly was presumably referring to Siti Nurhaliza. 'Criticism received is fair. Let this be a reminder unto all. We'll continue working to address the systemic issues for our healthcare workers – that's my commitment,' he tweeted. Salam Msia Madani ❤️🇲🇾❤️ Appreciate the concerns voiced. For the record, the person had graciously attended as a guest & performed without payment to honour PMX & our healthcare workers from HQ & facilities, including guests from other agencies, ministries, universities, private… — Dzulkefly Ahmad (@DrDzul) Siti Nurhaliza and Jamal Abdillah respond to social media criticism Biduanita Negara Datuk Seri Siti Nurhaliza took to social media to inform the public that she was at the health ministry's Raya gathering merely as a guest and was not hired specifically to perform. She explained that she did not want more people to continue with the slander when her name was mentioned in the news about her performance at the event, reiterating that she did so willingly and did not accept any form of payment. 'I only sang because I wanted to show my appreciation towards members of KKM willingly and without being paid to do so,' she said in an Instagram post on Wednesday (23 April). Meanwhile, Jamal Abdillah agreed to perform at the event to fulfill an invitation by the ministry's chief secretary, who is also his friend, Malaysia's Raja Pop (king of pop) known for hits such as Derita Cinta, Ghazal Untuk Rabiah and Seniman Menangis said he did not set a fee, but agreed to perform for a token of appreciation, adding that he didn't care how much was being offered and just accepted any amount. 'It wasn't much, just a few thousand (ringgit) only,' he said. Allegations of systemic issues ailing KKM staff Medical workers and members of the public accused the health ministry's Hari Raya event of being in poor taste and claimed there were systemic issues within the ministry that had not been resolved. They were unhappy to see KKM hosting a lavish event as they alleged allowance cuts, delayed overtime payments, and annual salary increments that never happened. The staff who work under the ministry also say they feel sidelined, accusing the ministry of prioritising its budget on a grand event over the welfare of its employees who were overworked and underpaid. Share your thoughts with us via TRP's . Get more stories like this to your inbox by signing up for our newsletter.

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