Materia Medica Malaysiana

Docs ‘avoiding transfers’

Some government doctors are using their political connections to avoid being transferred to rural areas and this has annoyed the Health Ministry.
Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek said the doctors, both seniors and juniors, would write to the politicians asking them to use their position to have transfer orders withdrawn.
“They would give all sorts of excuses like their parents are aging or that their family won’t be able to join them at the new place.
“The politicians, afraid of being labelled as powerless, would pressure the directors to cancel the order,” he said at the Benut Health Centre near here yesterday.
Dr Chua said this would disrupt the health department’s planning, especially in matters related to services in rural areas.
“That is why in most places, we have one doctor who is responsible for five health centres.
“With that ratio, the doctor will only be able to serve one centre each day,” he said.
Dr Chua hoped that health department staff would give their cooperation regarding transfers.