KUALA LUMPUR: In a bid to increase the number of specialist doctors, the Government is increasing the number of scholarships for the local Masters programme from 450 to 1,000 slots. The 1,000 scholarships will be available to doctors who plan to specialise in the fields of their choice beginning this year, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam.
He said there were currently 3,714 specialists in the government sector and an estimated 8,000 specialists in the private sector.
This number, he said, only filled up about 70% of current posts available in government and private hospitals.
“We also encourage our medical officers to pursue the specialist programme via various pathways such as the membership programmes,” said Dr Subramaniam before opening the 10th Health Ministry–Academy of Medicine Malaysia Scientific Meeting yesterday.
He urged medical practitioners to always strive for excellence and not be satisfied with being “run of the mill” doctors.
“Achieving adequate supply of trained human resource with the capacity and capability to meet the needs of the nation will always be a challenge.
“Despite changes and improvements in medical student education and post-graduate training over the past years, the Health Ministry is still facing a shortage of doctors and specialists,” he said in his speech, adding that the Government was looking to increase the number of specialists in areas including radiology, pathology and emergency medicine.
During the event, Dr Subramaniam was admitted as an Honorary Fellow to the Academy of Medicine Malaysia.