MOH weighs new incentives to keep specialists in public healthcare

Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad has announced that the Ministry of Health (MOH) is exploring new incentive mechanisms to retain medical specialists in the public healthcare system. These measures come as there are ongoing concerns about staffing shortages and heavy workloads in the sector. The ministry is also looking into professional development opportunities and granting public-sector specialists limited flexibility to perform locum work at private healthcare facilities.

At a convocation ceremony at the Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), Dzulkefly acknowledged the implementation of double shifts at many MOH facilities due to a shortage of over 10,000 nursing positions, thereby necessitating a more comprehensive approach to address excessive workloads and healthcare worker burnout. The minister urged the development of integrated approaches, including clinical management and the sharing of nursing staff between health clinics and hospitals.

Regarding the planned deployment of 560 permanent medical officers to Sabah in October, Dzulkefly highlighted that the MOH is strengthening its coordination mechanisms to ensure systematic, responsive, and data-driven placements. The issue of human resources, especially in Sabah and Sarawak, is not merely about the number of healthcare personnel, but also the strategic distribution of these professionals according to location, facilities, needs, and demand. The minister emphasized the need to identify the actual needs matrix for each facility.