Permanent posts, better pay key to retaining local doctors
OFFERING permanent positions and more competitive salaries are among the most effective ways to retain local medical graduates and curb the outflow of healthcare professionals abroad.
Former Deputy Health Minister Dr Lee Boon Chye said the government must ensure that doctors are given opportunities to pursue specialist training — whether in a specific field or as family medicine officers — once they complete their housemanship.
'They must also be offered permanent appointments so that their future in the Health Ministry (MOH) is more secure, instead of being placed on two-year contracts that are renewed periodically.
'I believe the most reasonable and effective approach is to provide a clear career path for medical officers.
'This means that once they finish their housemanship, they should be given room to progress in their careers,' he told Utusan Malaysia.
The daily earlier reported that a Singapore-based recruitment agency is actively seeking qualified and experienced Malaysian doctors and nurses, luring them with significantly higher salaries and allowances.
The agency is expected to hold an open interview session at a hotel in Kuala Lumpur (KL) next month, advertising an annual package worth up to RM365,106, including housing and various other benefits.
Following this development, there have been suggestions for the government to impose new conditions or regulations to bind local medical graduates — particularly those sponsored by public bodies like Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) — to serve in the domestic public health sector.
However, Dr Lee said such measures would be less effective without strong career assurances and appropriate compensation.
He stressed that incentives such as permanent positions, structured specialisation pathways and competitive remuneration are critical in ensuring medical graduates remain in Malaysia.
'When a graduate receives sponsorship from agencies like Mara or the Public Service Department (JPA), they are bound by contract terms.
'If they choose to resign before completing the required service period, they will be subject to penalties as stipulated in the agreement,' he said.
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