MMA calls for Borneo incentive to be restored amid doctor no-show reports

The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) has urged the government to reinstate the percentage-based Borneo Incentive (BIW) payments to entice doctors to work in Sabah and Sarawak. This call comes in light of reports indicating that up to 76% of medical officers failed to report for permanent positions on September 28. MMA president Dr L Sivanaesan emphasized the significance of this high number of medical officers not showing up for permanent postings, particularly when some facilities received no new medical officers at all.

Dr Sivanaesan pointed out that the decline in permanent appointments is a sign of deeper issues plaguing the conditions and terms of service in Borneo. For years, doctors have considered permanent appointments as a form of security, and their recent refusal to accept them should serve as a warning that the current conditions in Borneo are discouraging doctors from serving there.

The BIW payments are presently fixed, but a health portal had previously reported that over 70% of medical officers did not report for permanent positions in various hospitals and clinics in Sabah and Sarawak.

The issue extends beyond the choice between permanent and contract employment, as doctors may have to relocate far from their families, incur high relocation costs, and serve in understaffed facilities with heavy workloads. Some areas also face inadequate accommodation and support. MMA proposed seven immediate actions, such as restoring percentage-based BIW payments, introducing Sabah and Sarawak-specific service allowances, and offering additional incentives like housing assistance, transport support, and retention bonuses.

They also suggested reviewing relocation assistance to reflect the actual cost of moving to Borneo and ensuring better living and working conditions, especially in rural areas.