medical brain drain Archives

12 March 2026

Malaysia

Singapore Agents Poaching Malaysian Medical Students Before Graduation

Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad says Singapore recruiters are approaching Malaysian medical students, even before they sit for their final exams, with lucrative pay and permanent jobs. He pledges to end Malaysia’s contract doctor system.

25 February 2026

Letter

Verbal Analgesia For Chronic Workforce Haemorrhage — Government Health Care Worker

Malaysia’s doctor shortage is now a systemic crisis, not a temporary issue. While Singapore, Thailand, and Indonesia pursue structured workforce strategies, weak retention and fragmented reforms risk worsening attrition and care delays.

18 September 2025

Malaysia

Fix Local Push Factors To Retain Doctors: MMA

MMA dismisses an ex-minister's proposal for Singapore to pay compensation for poaching Malaysian doctors, saying push factors at home outweigh the pull abroad. On-call allowance hike can't be deferred. "Malaysia cannot afford to continue losing doctors."

11 September 2025

Malaysia

Ex-Minister Demands Compensation From Singapore For Poaching Malaysian Doctors, Nurses

Ex-minister Abdul Rahman Dahlan wants the Singapore government to compensate the Malaysia government for stealing our doctors & nurses. Singapore's "capitalism without soul" is undermining Malaysia's mission to provide adequate and affordable health care.

5 September 2025

Malaysia

Nurses Form 87% Of MOH Health Workers Emigrating Overseas: Dzulkefly

Nearly 9 of 10 health workers who quit MOH to emigrate overseas were nurses, who comprised 381 of 440 health workers resigning from 2020-2024 to work abroad. Dr Dzul says health worker salaries are in line with Malaysia's income level and fiscal position.

14 August 2025

Letter

Borrowed Hands, Broken System: The Hidden Cost Of Malaysia’s Nursing Deficit — Srre Vaishnavi Palanisamy

A law grad says recruitment of foreign nurses in Malaysia should be a thoughtful strategy, citing examples from Australia, Canada, and the UK. "Malaysia can adopt this approach by creating bilateral agreements and offering limited-term service pathways."

12 August 2025

Malaysia

Bandar Kuching MP Backs Hiring Foreign Nurses For Government Hospitals

Dr Kelvin Yii (PH-Bandar Kuching) supports the recruitment of foreign nurses for government hospitals in Malaysia as an immediate solution to acute nursing shortages today, noting that measures like increased training are medium- to long-term solutions.

8 August 2025

Letter

Importing Nurses: The Symptom, Not The Cure — Afifah Abd Wahid

Multimedia University economics lecturer Afifah Abd Wahid says importing Indonesian nurses may act as a much needed painkiller, but Malaysia still needs to cure the chronic condition plaguing its health care workforce.

7 August 2025

Malaysia

Over 2,000 Government Doctors, Nurses With Five Years’ Service Quit Since 2022

Over 2,000 MOH doctors and nurses with over five years’ service resigned between 2022 and 2024. Nurse resignations rose sharply over the period, while doctor exits declined slightly. MOH says it's boosting retention through staffing and incentives.

1 July 2025

Letter

Malaysia’s Nursing Shortage Symptom Of Global Health Care Crisis — Dr Sean Thum

Dr Sean Thum says nurse shortages aren't exclusive to Malaysia, but a global challenge. The new 45-hour work week for nurses, like for other civil servants, shows the need for a Health Services Commission to remove health workers from the general service.

Tag: medical brain drain

Singapore Agents Poaching Malaysian Medical Students Before Graduation

Verbal Analgesia For Chronic Workforce Haemorrhage — Government Health Care Worker

Fix Local Push Factors To Retain Doctors: MMA

Ex-Minister Demands Compensation From Singapore For Poaching Malaysian Doctors, Nurses

Nurses Form 87% Of MOH Health Workers Emigrating Overseas: Dzulkefly

Borrowed Hands, Broken System: The Hidden Cost Of Malaysia’s Nursing Deficit — Srre Vaishnavi Palanisamy

Bandar Kuching MP Backs Hiring Foreign Nurses For Government Hospitals

Importing Nurses: The Symptom, Not The Cure — Afifah Abd Wahid

Over 2,000 Government Doctors, Nurses With Five Years’ Service Quit Since 2022

Malaysia’s Nursing Shortage Symptom Of Global Health Care Crisis — Dr Sean Thum

Nationalism Can Curb Doctor Brain Drain, Says KPPA

‘Zero Pending’, Zero Safety, Zero HCWs: The Burning Crisis At Queen Elizabeth Hospital — Health Worker

HTA Sacks Admin Assistant, Reports Massive Housemen Scam To Police

Malaysia Faces Emerging Shortage Of Dialysers, Haemodialysis Components

MOH Admits Energy Crisis Impact On Medicines, Medical Devices Supply