Doctors take eight years to specialise

Star: KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian doctors take longer to become specialists than their counterparts in Britain and other western countries.
A local doctor said it would take at least eight years for a fresh medical graduate working in hospitals here to become a specialist and earn a U48 pay under the Public Services Department salary scheme.
“Doctors serving in Britain or elsewhere can qualify as specialists in two-third the time.”
He said that under local requirements, doctors have to wait at least three years after completing their one-year housemanship before they could take up the specialist course.
“They would take at least four years to complete the course. However, the doctor will have to wait for his qualification to be gazetted by the local medical authorities before he can enjoy the specialist pay.”