I am writing to express my deep disappointment and dissatisfaction regarding the recent outcome of the Palliative Medicine subspecialty selection exercise, in which only five slots were provided.
I am currently serving as the sole Internal Medicine Physician providing services at the government hospital where I work. Since my gazettement on September 17, 2024, I have remained fully committed to my clinical duties and have continuously worked to support the growing palliative care needs of patients within our district.
Throughout my service, I didn’t take any prolonged leave and have consistently prioritised patient care and service development.
What I find particularly difficult to understand is that despite the well-recognised shortage of palliative medicine physicians nationwide, my application was unsuccessful.
This decision appears inconsistent with the urgent need to strengthen palliative care services, especially in underserved district hospitals where manpower remains severely limited.
I am also concerned about the perceived fairness of the selection process. As someone who has been actively serving and sustaining palliative care services with limited resources, it is disheartening to see my commitment seemingly overlooked.
The decision becomes even more difficult to accept when applicants successfully secured subspecialty placements in other disciplines, despite being away from active service for prolonged periods due to extended leave.
My intention is not to question the eligibility of any individual candidate, but rather to seek clarification regarding the criteria used in the selection process and whether sufficient consideration was given to service needs, demonstrated commitment, and workforce planning.
I respectfully request that CodeBlue raise this matter with the relevant authorities and advocate for greater transparency in the subspecialty selection process.
In addition, I hope consideration can be given to applicants who are already actively contributing to palliative care services, particularly in areas where access to specialist palliative care remains limited.
As a physician who is genuinely passionate about palliative medicine, I remain committed to serving this field and improving the quality of care for patients with serious illnesses.
Nevertheless, I believe it is important that concerns regarding fairness, transparency, and workforce planning be addressed to maintain confidence in the subspecialty training system.
I hope that this matter can be reviewed constructively for the benefit of both health care professionals and the patients that we serve.
Last but not least, I would like to highlight that I have made the difficult decision to resign from the Ministry of Health and pursue my career in the private sector as a general specialist.
CodeBlue is providing the author anonymity because civil servants are prohibited from writing to the press.
- This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of CodeBlue.
