Do more to arrest medical brain drain

The Star

15-07-2025

As a medical doctor, I feel compelled to speak candidly about the ongoing exodus of our medical professionals to countries like Singapore, Australia, and the UK. The issue is not new—but it has become expedient.
I acknowledge Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zulkifli Ahmad's recent comments that the government is taking steps to retain talent. His sincerity is evident, and I believe he genuinely cares about this crisis. However, goodwill and promises alone are not enough. We must confront the systemic flaws that are pushing our healthcare workers to leave.
While the Minister cited the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Services to justify cross-border movement of doctors as 'personal freedom,' he needs to tackle the deeper issue:
What we are witnessing is not merely a wave of personal decisions—it is a sign of structural failure compelling our doctors to leave. Many young doctors are caught in a contract system with no clear pathway to permanent appointments. Opportunities for specialist training remain limited and non-transparent. Salaries are stagnant, career progression uncertain, and public hospitals are stretched beyond capacity. Under such conditions, departing is not an easy choice—it becomes a necessary one.
What's worse, a mechanism that was supposed to be temporary has turned into long-term institutional neglect. Some doctors serve for six years and still face career instability. Meanwhile, their peers abroad are building stable, fulfilling lives.
When it comes to retaining talent, salary is only the surface issue—what truly matters is the system. If the government is sincere about keeping our doctors, then it must provide them with a clear and achievable pathway for the future:
1. The country must have a long-term human resource plan;
2. Hard work must not be buried by bureaucracy;
3. Opportunities for further training must be institutionalised—not left to chance;
4. Promotion pathways must be fair, transparent, and based on merit—not connections;
5. Public service must be guided by professionalism—not swayed by political trends.
The government must do more than express hope—we must deliver certainty. Retention isn't just about salaries. It's about creating a system that offers fairness, opportunity, and a future. In this context, MCA would like to propose the following reforms:
1. Legislate a clear pathway for contract doctors to be absorbed permanently, based on service length and performance.
2. Expand and reform specialist training programmes to ensure fair and merit-based access.
3. Create a National Medical Workforce Blueprint (2025–2040) to guide long-term planning and policy.
4. Revise the salary structure and introduce incentives, including rural service allowances and development grants.
5. Establish a Medical Talent Retention and Repatriation Council to actively bring Malaysian doctors back from abroad, much like Taiwan has done.
It must be emphasised that Malaysia doesn't lack doctors—we lack a system they believe in. It's not just about losing people; we're losing their trust.
If we still believe in having a healthcare system that is professional, compassionate, and sustainable, then reform must start now. Not with more words—but with real action.
Retaining medical talent is not just a staffing issue—it is a national responsibility and a test of our commitment to those who care for us all.
Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon
MCA deputy president