Materia Medica Malaysiana

Incentives For Doctors Working In Islands, Remote Areas

PULAU PANGKOR, Dec 19 (Bernama) -- The Health Ministry will introduce a special incentive scheme for medical officers stationed on islands and in remote areas nationwide, says its minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek
He said those who completed a year of service in such areas might receive incentives in the form of scholarship for further studies, career advancement and other benefits.
"It is hoped that such incentives will encourage medical officers to accept postings to such areas," he told reporters at visiting the Desa Pangkor Hospital here Sunday.
He said currently almost all the small islands in the country had no medical officers as all of them were stationed in towns and the incentive was a form of reward for their sacrifices.
"Apart from incentives, the ministry may also introduce a system to rotate the posting of medical officers to ensure such places have the required expertise.
"However, if problems arise from the system, the ministry may have to engage the services of foreign medical officers to avoid disrupting the current system," he said.
Dr Chua hoped the revival of the Telehealth programme could also help reduce the problems caused by the shortage of medical officers.