Materia Medica Malaysiana

Health Ministry Moves To Woo M'sian Specialists Abroad

PUTRAJAYA, Feb 2 (Bernama) -- The Health Ministry will shorten the three-year compulsory service in government hospitals in a move to attract Malaysian specialists to return to serve in the country.
Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek said the relaxation offered to specialists with degrees and qualifications recognised by the Malaysian Medical Council was among steps taken to overcome shortage of specialists in certain disciplines.
Easing of the condition was agreed to by the Cabinet in its weekly meeting Wednesday, he told reporters.
Dr Chua said a special committee comprising health ministry secretary-general, health services director-general and his deputy would be set up to evaluate the specialists' qualifications.
Bone marrow transplant and liver transplant surgeons and oncologists are among the specialists needed, he said.
He, however, said the relaxation would be given on a case-by-case basis.
Dr Chua said his ministry would also cut short the compulsory housemanship period at government hospitals to Malaysian specialists with advanced medical degrees from the United Kingdom from 18 months to six-and-a-half months.
He said Malaysian specialists aged 45 and above who returned to serve in the country would be exempted from the three-year compulsory service with government hospitals.
"To those below 45, relaxation of the compulsory service period will be decided by the committee," he said.
Dr Chua explained the relaxation was only for Malaysian specialists currently serving in foreign countries and not for local medical degree graduates.
Dr Chua also explained the Bahasa Malaysia examination for 300 government doctors who did not have a credit in the national language would be held twice.
"We have a special module for them so that they will be proficient in BM but not at Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia level, so long they can speak and write BM at an accepted level," he added.