Give rural docs more

Star: KUALA LUMPUR: The critical allowance for doctors serving in Sabah and Sarawak should be increased to encourage more doctors to serve in the rural areas, said the Malaysian Medical Association.
MMA president Datuk Dr Teoh Siang Chin said the present critical allowance of 10% of the base salary or RM500, whichever is more, given across-the-board should be revised for those in the two states.
Critical allowance is given to doctors in view of the critical need in the field.
“We are asking for an increase in critical allowance of 50% of the base salary for doctors in these two states,” he said in an interview.
“Incentives must be given to teachers and doctors to serve there to ensure equal and quality access to education and healthcare,” he said.
He said doctors in district hospitals worked longer hours because there were fewer doctors there and so they made more calls and handled complex cases, including conducting surgical operations under remote supervision (via the phone).
He said the monetary incentive could motivate doctors to serve in the rural areas.