M'sia Needs More Medical Personnel

KUALA LUMPUR, June 17 (Bernama) -- Malaysia, as a developing nation, needs to further enhance its human resources in the health sector with a higher ratio of physicians, nurses, dentists and pharmacists serving the population, says Deputy Minister of Finance 1, Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen Saturday.
"We need to do something to reinforce our health industry. Most of our healthcare professionals have migrated to other countries for better pay," she said at the Allianz General Insurance Malaysia Blood Donation Campaign here today,
Currently, almost 46 percent of local doctors, 54 percent of dentists and 76 percent of pharmacists are in the private sector.
Dr Ng said the government has allocated RM1.5 billion to the training of healthcare personnel in the Ninth Malaysia Plan, a five-fold increase from the previous plan.
"Greater efforts will be put towards ensuring accessibility and affordability of health care for the population, with the emphasis on mothers, children and other vulnerable groups," she said.
On the other hand, she said the private sector should take a more leading role in partnership with the government to promote the advancement of well-being of the population.
The National Blood Centre has estimated that some 85 percent of blood donations happen during blood campaigns and through mobile clinics.
Only 15 percent of blood is collected from donors who go to hospitals and clinics.