Latest news with #R.A.Lingeshwaran
Focus Malaysia
2 days ago
- Health
- Focus Malaysia
Johor's healthcare crisis deepens amidst staffing shortages, Singapore's pull
JOHOR is facing a severe healthcare staffing crisis, driven by overworked personnel, a surging population, and the steady migration of medical talent to neighbouring Singapore. According to The Straits Times, the state urgently requires at least 4,600 more healthcare workers, including doctors, nurses, and specialists, to meet growing demands. Major hospitals like Sultanah Aminah and Sultan Ismail are operating at 100–110% capacity daily. Nurses are caring for up to 14 patients per shift, twice the ideal ratio, while some patients are forced to sleep in waiting areas. Hospital Sultanah Aminah, Malaysia's second busiest public hospital, sees more than 2,000 patients daily. Former government cardiologist Dr Ng Kim Fong, who left the hospital in 2024 after nearly two decades, said he once tended to around 100 patients a day. He has since moved to private practice with a significantly higher salary. Johor's population surged by 11.1% over the past decade, reaching 4.01 mil in 2024. The strain on healthcare services has become unsustainable, prompting the Johor Regent to urge the federal government to accelerate recruitment efforts. A major driver of the crisis is the exodus of healthcare professionals to Singapore, drawn by better pay and working conditions. Senator R.A. Lingeshwaran noted that Singapore offers Malaysian doctors up to S$110,000 annually plus perks, compared to just RM72,000 (S$22,000) for a Malaysian medical officer with three years' experience. Low salaries, overwork, poor work culture, and limited career advancement are pushing more Malaysian healthcare workers to leave the public sector or move abroad. —July 1, 2025 Main image: FSMOne
New Straits Times
11-07-2025
- 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.
