MMA: Doctor shortage, healthcare reform must top agenda

The Star

4 days ago

PETALING JAYA: Addressing the shortage of doctors must be a top priority in the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) as well as a focus on strate­gies to retain health workers and for a healthcare financing model, say stakeholders and experts.
Future-proofing the workplace to account for older workers is also important, they said.
Malaysian Medical Association president Datuk Dr Kalwinder Singh Khaira said the 13MP should be a turning point for Malaysia's healthcare system, with the next five years focused on making it more resilient, fair and sustainable for all.
'Addressing the shortage of doctors must be a top priority, especially in the public sector.
'This goes beyond increasing the number of doctors. It also involves ensuring adequate distribution across urban and rural areas, improving career security and aligning training with natio­nal healthcare needs,' he said in an interview.
The 13MP, according to MMA, should also include long-term stra­tegy to expand and retain the healthcare workforce as well as measures to address burnout, improve working conditions and the creation of more permanent career pathways.
'It is also time that the government abolish the contract system and go back to offering permanent positions to all doctors ­joining the system to retain our healthcare workforce,' Dr Kalwinder said.
He added that more should also be done to accelerate the adoption of digital health infrastructure such as the use of electronic medical records, and for a stronger public-private partnership to tackle the rising burden of non-communicable diseases.
MMA also calls for greater investment in postgraduate medical training to boost the number of specialists and the development of a sustainable national healthcare financing framework.
'These are not just aspirations. They are essential reforms for the health and well-being of future generations,' said the MMA president.
Dr Kalwinder said several critical goals from the 12MP remain unrealised or only partially fulfilled, including the digitisation of the health care services and dee­per public-private collaboration.
'While progress is still ongoing, the pace has been slow and often fragmented. The 13MP must provide clear timelines, accountability mechanisms and political will to accelerate reforms in these areas.
'Without this, the gaps in our healthcare system will only widen,' he said.
Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) president Datuk Dr Syed Hussain Syed Husman urges the government to shift its focus towards future-proofing the economy, transforming public healthcare and strengthening human capital to meet future global challenges.
'To remain relevant in an era of artificial intelligence (AI), green transition and digital globalisation, 13MP must prioritise human capital development, including through the reskilling and upskilling of our workforce.
'National reskilling programmes in critical sectors such as AI, cybersecurity and healthcare should be systematically expanded in alignment with industry needs,' said Syed Hussain.
To drive long-term economic competitiveness, the 13MP, he said, must promote good governance through a whole government implementation mechanism, with clear KPI driven delivery frameworks across ministries and agencies.
'As Malaysia moves towards an ageing society phase, the 13MP must also address structural trends proactively,' he said.
It also calls for flexible employment, phased retirement, part-time work and project based consulting roles for older workers.
'MEF stresses that the country cannot afford to lose the experience, skills and contribution of older citizens.
'We need to encourage employers to adopt ergonomically safe, inclusive and multigenerational work environments,' said Syed Hussain.
For Malaysia to compete in the global economy, he said a healthy and resilient workforce was essential.
'Future-proofing our skilled workforce must include a strong healthcare support system that enables our workers to stay productive.
'MEF urges the government to integrate strategic health workforce development into 13MP as part of a broader productivity and human capital transformation agenda,' he said.
Health economist Prof Dr Maznah Dahlui of Universiti Malaya suggested the government align the 13MP with the Health White Paper.
The Health White Paper, aimed at future-proofing Malaysia's healthcare system over the next 15 years, was passed by Parliament in June 2023.
'It should be about the realisation of (strategies) of the health white paper, and the reinvention of the healthcare system as well as to overcome issues faced for sustainability. It is all there,' she said.
Public health expert Datuk Dr Zainal Ariffin Omar said the government should look into increasing allocation for health in order to prioritise infrastructure, elderly care and issues related to preventive health.
'It should also be focused on addressing issues related to NCDs linked to ageing. It will be good if there is a new model of health care infrastructure using digital technology,' he said.