KUALA LUMPUR, July 13 – The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) has welcomed the government’s move to cancel the scholarship bonds of contract doctors, dentists, and pharmacists who successfully apply for release.
In a statement yesterday, MMA president Dr Koh Kar Chai described the offer to cancel the scholarship bonds as a “good initiative”. However, he noted that the Public Service Department (JPA) would ultimately decide whether approvals are given.
“The option being given to continue serving in the civil service after the cancellation of bonds will hopefully allow a substantial number of doctors to remain in the civil workforce. The reasons behind this move are unclear, but it is appreciated.
“As to those who feel that the government has wasted resources to train these doctors who chose to leave civil service after cancelling their bonds, it will not be a waste if they continue to remain serving within the country albeit in the private sector,” Dr Koh said.
Dr Koh added that whether there will be an exodus of doctors out of the public sector will depend on the cancellation process adopted by the JPA.
“The ultimate worry will be the brain drain out of the country if such successful applicants choose to leave the country, but again, it will depend on the criteria adopted by the JPA,” Dr Koh said.
Free Malaysia Today previously reported JPA’s decision to cancel the bonds of contract officers who successfully applied for release.
The move aims to reduce the increasing number of contract medical professionals in government service. Medical scholarship students will have to serve the government for 10 years upon graduation, including internship and mandatory service.
Students who break their bonds will be penalised with a fee of at least RM300,000 to RM1 million, based on their country of study.
