Government hospitals ‘bleeding’ a doctor a day

NST: At least one doctor a day leaves the public service for private practice, despite efforts over many years to stem the flow.
Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek says: “Many Government hospitals and health clinics nationwide are not fully operational because we are short of trained manpower.”
Frustration over delays by the Public Services Department (PSD) in approving doctors’ allowances, promotions and other perks is one of the reasons cited for the exodus.
Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) president Datuk Dr Teoh Siang Chin says: “Some (doctors) lose patience and decide to leave. Our concern is the young specialists leaving the public sector.”
Dr Teoh added that the MMA has been calling for a restructuring of the entire public healthcare system. Among their suggestions is the formation of a Medical Commission, independent of the PSD, to handle healthcare workers in the public sector separately from other public servants.
He said the restructuring would offer more flexibility. For example, extra incentives could be given to those who work in less popular fields.
Meanwhile, a medical lecturer at a public university said employing foreign doctors is not the solution for the shortage of medical personnel and can lead to tension.
“Local doctors and professors are often not too happy when a foreign doctor is made head of department,” said Dr Kuljit Singh.
If the Government agrees to restructure the public healthcare service, he said, better pay for doctors in both public and university hospitals might encourage more doctors to stay on, and Malaysians working overseas might find it attractive to come home.
According to the Health Minister, based on a population of 26 million, the country is short of 21,500 medical officers, 3,700 dentists, 8,600 pharmacists and 130,000 health scientists (those who work in laboratories, do research and other behind-the-scenes medical work), in both the public and private sectors.
On top of this, said Dr Chua, there is a shortage of about 10,000 specialists.