'Recruit foreign healthcare workers for public system to counter staff exodus'
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia should aggressively recruit foreign healthcare professionals to plug critical staffing gaps.
Malaysia faces a critical shortage of healthcare workers in its public system, with doctors, specialists, nurses and allied health professionals leaving the profession or moving to the private sector, according to the Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy. CEO Azrul Mohd Khalib stated that local talent is insufficient to fill these vacancies, highlighting the need for aggressive recruitment and retention programs.
The 2027 Budget should prioritize funding for a comprehensive program targeting both Malaysian and non-Malaysian healthcare professionals, with a focus on improving allowances, permanent appointments, and working conditions. The Galen Centre also recommended the creation of an independent Health Services Commission to better address the workforce's specialized needs, deployment, and career development.
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