KUALA LUMPUR, April 13 — Public Service director-general (KPPA) Wan Ahmad Dahlan Abdul Aziz has touted building a nationalistic spirit to help prevent brain drain among doctors.
The head of the Public Service Department (JPA) was responding to official data from the Ministry of Health (MOH) showing that only 529 medical graduates filled just 10 per cent of 5,000 housemanship slots offered last January.
One of the mechanisms to keep doctors in public service, he said, was a service bond for medical students who receive training under government sponsorship.
“The most important thing here is the spirit of serving the nation. If there is a sense of nationalism to help the country, this issue can be overcome,” Buletin TV3 quoted Wan Ahmad Dahlan as saying in Kampar, Perak, last Saturday.
He also reportedly said the government was working on improving the work environment and welfare of doctors to retain them in service.
Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) president Dr R. Arasu said in response that Malaysian doctors leave not because they don’t love their country, but because “the system and policy don’t reciprocate their love”.
“Uncertain contracts. Allowances that do not match their sacrifices. Career paths that are unclear and uncertain. Promotions that lack transparency — where merit does not always prevail. Placements that do not respect their choices and sacrifices,” Dr Arasu posted on X yesterday.
“Nationalism already exists within them. What is lacking is justice from the SYSTEM and POLICY itself. Fix the SYSTEM & POLICY. They will stay. Restore trust. They will return.”
Three issues have hit house officers of late: workforce shortage, a suicide, and a scam, with Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad showing few substantive measures in response. He didn’t issue a statement on an administrative assistant’s alleged defrauding of about 190 junior doctors at Tunku Azizah Hospital out of more than RM47,000.
Sabah State Women, Health and People’s Wellbeing Minister Julita Majungki reportedly said at an event organised by MMA in Kota Kinabalu last Saturday that Sabah is facing a shortfall of some 6,000 doctors, as there are 2,884 doctors serving the state compared to an estimated need of around 9,000.
“Doctors not only treat patients, but also manage constraints in terms of infrastructure and manpower. Despite this, many continue to serve with high commitment, especially in rural areas,” Julita was quoted as saying.
She urged the federal government to restore the Regional Incentive Payment (BIW) allowance to its original progressive structure instead of a flat RM360 monthly rate that was imposed from December 1, 2024.
