My child, along with 100 other undergraduates from his batch, completed their medical degree from IMU University in March 2024.
Their convocation ceremony took place in June 2024. With their transcripts in hand, they eagerly submitted their applications for house officers in August 2024.
Just days ago, they discovered that only four of the 100 or so young doctors, who applied from IMU, succeeded in obtaining postings. The rest were advised to apply again in six months’ time.
We appreciate that doctors from public medical schools get priority for postings, while those from private universities do not.
Nonetheless, a doctor is still a doctor by any name; they still need to undergo housemanship to obtain their licence in order to diligently exercise the Hippocratic Oath.
It is rather concerning that despite a reported severe shortage of housemen in the Ministry of Health (MOH), to the extent that trainee doctors were allocated exclusively to state and university hospitals in the first intake of the year, doctors who are ready and willing to fill the void are not being utilised.
Just last month, CodeBlue also reported that the transfer of housemen to Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital (HTAA) in Kuantan, Pahang, has created a staffing crisis at Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Hospital (HOSHAS) in Temerloh that doctors say is compromising patient safety.
As it is, medicine is a lengthy course. Delaying a return of medical graduates to hospitals only aggravates the situation, not just to the affected doctors themselves but the ripple effect of a lack of doctors in hospitals, the mental health of doctors who are barely holding up the system, overworked and underpaid doctors, and endless patient queues.
It is my hope that the Health Minister and his ministry is alert, responsive, and sensitive to what appears to be a severe mismatch of house officers to teaching hospitals.
A further delay will only aggravate brain drain that we can barely afford, especially of our young doctors. The minister, with the power vested in him, should immediately offer postings to all applicants.
Azimah Rahim is a concerned parent.
- This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of CodeBlue.
