KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 19 — Only one medical officer reported for duty out of nine permanent positions offered by the Ministry of Health (MOH) in Kinabatangan Hospital last October, according to the Sabah state health department (JKNS).
However, JKNS pointed out that doctor is currently undergoing specialty training and, as such, is unable to work in the district hospital.
“JKNS acknowledges significant operational challenges, following a critical reduction in medical officers,” said JKNS in a statement Monday, in response to a CodeBlue article titled “Over 70% Dangerous Doctor Deficit At Kinabatangan Hospital — Dr Tachdjian”.
“For Kinabatangan Hospital, since November 2025, this hospital has been operating with only nine medical officers, including the hospital director, following the simultaneous transfers of a few officers.”
JKNS said it would ensure that Kinabatangan Hospital has around 10 medical officers, pending the recruitment of new contract or permanent doctors.
The state health department explained that four medical officers from Hospital Duchess of Kent (HDOK) Sandakan, Beluran Hospital, and Lahad Datu Hospital have been mobilised periodically to Kinabatangan Hospital to ensure around 10 medical officers at all times.
Two additional medical officers from the Kinabatangan district health office have also been placed in Kinabatangan Hospital from last November to help with outpatient department operations.
Hospital management is closely observing work distribution to ensure that services in critical zones like the emergency department, wards, and outpatient department continue to operate in a safe and controlled manner.
“JKNS views seriously the situation in Kinabatangan Hospital and records our appreciation for the dedication and high commitment of workers who continue to serve amid manpower constraints,” said the state health department.
“Our priority is to safeguard the safety and quality of patient treatment.”
Dr William Gotulis is the Sabah state health director.
JKNS’ statement confirms the letter by an anonymous doctor to CodeBlue about Kinabatangan Hospital operating only with eight medical officers (excluding the hospital director).
Another three possible departures may leave the hospital with only five medical officers, marking a deficit of over 70 per cent as Kinabatangan Hospital needs 18 medical officers to function safely.
The government doctor also wrote that mobilising doctors from neighbouring hospitals to plug manpower gaps wasn’t a solution, but a “displacement of crisis”.
Citing extremely long working hours of 30 consecutive days without a single proper off day, the doctor said exhaustion was impairing judgment and jeopardising patient safety in rural Malaysia.
JKNS’ revelation that only one medical officer reported for duty out of nine permanent appointments offered in Kinabatangan Hospital shows evidence of the increasing lack of appeal of permanent posts for doctors.
In a written reply to Dewan Negara last December, Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad revealed a 43 per cent no-show rate among 764 contract medical officers reporting for duty for permanent placements in Sarawak last year as of November.
Dzulkefly is now planning to phase out the contract system for medical officers. The contract system was a major source of dissatisfaction a few years ago, but the large numbers of no-shows for permanent appointments, at least in East Malaysia, indicate that permanent positions may no longer be enough to retain doctors in the national health service.
