Fresh approach needed to reignite interest in medicine

Malaysian Reserve

10-07-2025

Long hours, unstable jobs and changing priorities push students away from medicine
THERE was a time when becoming a doctor was seen as one of the most prestigious career paths, sparking public debate when local universities could no longer cope with the surge in applications for medical studies.
Many parents were once willing to spend significant sums to send their children abroad for medical studies after failing to secure places in local universities.
However, times have changed and the field is now increasingly being overlooked. Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad recently urged straight-A Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) students to consider pursuing medicine at the university level.
He also expressed concern over the declining interest in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) fields among students, warning that it could have long-term implications for the country's medical sector.
Losing Appeal
The declining interest in pursuing medicine among younger generations is acknowledged by Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM) Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences physiology lecturer associate professor Dr Norsham Juliana Nordin.
She noted that today's youth are more informed and career-conscious, having grown up in a vastly different environment from previous generations.
'They are more critical when evaluating career choices, often prioritising work-life balance. While medicine was once regarded as the pinnacle of academic achievement, it is now seen as a long, demanding and rigid path — especially when compared to emerging fields like technology, entrepreneurship, data science, or artificial intelligence (AI),' she said.
In addition, social media narratives highlighting the hardships, long working hours and perceived lack of fair compensation have further discouraged many high-achieving students from pursuing a career in medicine.
'This trend also reflects society's growing tendency to prioritise income over impact. Today, students who aspire to become doctors are often discouraged by the perceived academic burden and the significant personal sacrifices involved,' she said.
Dr Norsham Juliana believes the way forward is to ʼheal the young healersʼ by restoring their mental health, motivation and work environment (Source: USIM's website)
She noted that ongoing issues within the national healthcare system — such as unstable contract positions, excessive workloads and toxic work cultures including bullying or high-pressure environments with minimal support — have become red flags for young people weighing a future in medicine.
At the same time, social media glamorises other careers as being more flexible, expressive and less stressful, she added.
Dr Norsham Juliana also pointed out the declining appeal of medicine is partly due to how the profession is treated as 'guilty until proven innocent' when it comes to patient care.
Quoting the famous Spider-Man phrase, 'With great power comes great responsibility,' she said every medical decision carries inherent risk.
'Every action taken to save a patient, no matter how small, invites scrutiny and accountability. But I believe existing doctors remain resilient,' she said, noting this as another reason why youth shy away from the field.
Restoring True Purpose
To reignite interest in the profession, Dr Norsham Juliana suggested regularly reminding both practitioners and medical students of the profession's true value: The nobility of saving lives.
She believes that to bring back the golden age of medicine, a more holistic approach is needed — starting with restoring joy to the learning process.
'I believe the younger generation is not afraid of sacrifice — they just want that sacrifice to be valued and supported by a fair system. Now is the time for all stakeholders, especially experts and influential medical figures, to step forward and lead the change.
'Let's restore the core strength of this profession — the healing spirit. Today, we must first 'heal the young healers' by restoring their mental health, motivation and work environment. Change isn't impossible… it begins with awareness, courage and collaboration,' she said.
She said the medical curricula today can be both fun and innovative without compromising the integrity of the field.
'Creative learning methods like simulations, virtual reality, gamification and story or visual-based teaching not only strengthen comprehension but also foster positive emotions — vital for sustaining student interest,' she said.
She added that studies show positive emotional experiences improve memory, problem-solving and empathy — all essential qualities of a great doctor.
Even top SPM scorers are turning away from medicine as values and priorities shift (pic: MEDIA MULIA)
Reshaping the Approach
Citing an initiative developed through collaboration among several public university medical faculties, Dr Norsham Juliana highlighted the upcoming Physiology Drama & Art Challenge 2025, which is scheduled to take place in October.
This programme gives medical and health science students the opportunity to showcase their creativity through comic design, digital posters, videos, or theatre performances.
'Using the theme of bodily functions, students can express their creativity while integrating science — showing how the two can coexist. We aim to nurture doctors who excel not only in theory but are also artistic, open-minded and empathetic,' she said.
The programme, involving USIM, Universiti Malaya (UM), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) and Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (UPNM), will take place on October 11 at USIM's Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences.
'Being a good doctor is not measured by exam scores alone, but by the sincere execution of responsibilities, nurtured through creativity,' she added.
She also stressed the importance of nurturing interest in medicine from secondary school, giving students early exposure to the profession.
'If they see that being a doctor isn't just a burden, but a meaningful life path, they'll choose it willingly.
'However, this effort requires collective readiness to shape a more appealing and competitive career path in medicine so we can present a more convincing narrative to students,' she said.
Other Fields Seen as Easier
Meanwhile, Malaysian Society of Neurosciences president Dr Ahmad Shahir Mawardi believes that the declining interest in medicine among youth is largely due to the rise of alternative career paths that appear easier and more 'glamorous' than becoming a doctor.
He noted that fields such as technology, engineering, the gig economy and even social media influencing offer attractive earnings without the intense challenges faced by medical students — on top of the financial burden of repaying loans from the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN).
'Medical students must complete five to seven years of challenging studies with high costs. On top of that, the gruelling housemanship or medical graduate training require high physical and mental endurance.
'In addition, trainee doctors who have completed their training must compete for permanent medical officer positions,' said Dr Ahmad Shahir, who has served the medical field for the past 21 years.
He emphasised that unless contract positions, workloads and other related issues are thoroughly resolved, the medical profession will continue to lose appeal among younger generations.
He also warned that if unresolved issues persist, the national healthcare system may lose more specialists and experienced medical personnel.
'Many doctors are leaving the public sector due to better incentives and job security elsewhere. For instance, working in Singapore offers more attractive incentives, better work hours and lighter workloads,' he said, while noting that workplace bullying in hospitals is likely an isolated issue.
Dr Ahmad Shahir stresses that as Malaysia's population ages, the demand for medical expertise will only grow, making early intervention vital (Source: asmmst.com.my)
To cultivate interest in medicine from a young age, Dr Ahmad Shahir said it must be nurtured with the right intentions and a genuine passion for the field.
He proposed introducing early education initiatives that expose students to the medical profession through hospital visits and short-term attachments, which could inspire them to consider a career in medicine.
Dr Ahmad Shahir also emphasised the importance of passing the torch to future generations, particularly in light of Malaysia's ageing population and rising life expectancy — currently 73.4 years for men and 78 years for women.
'As more Malaysians become senior citizens, the incidence of disease and demand for healthcare, including medical expertise, will rise. If this isn't addressed early, we may face a serious shortage in healthcare services.
'My hope is that the authorities recognise healthcare as the backbone of a nation. Medical issues like staffing and excessive workloads, which have been widely reported in the media, must be brought to the Parliament and addressed through both short-and long-term strategies — for the future of our beloved Malaysia,' he said. — Bernama
This article first appeared in The Malaysian Reserve weekly print edition