Sabah hospitals face doctor shortage amid low turnout of new MOs
KUALA LUMPUR: Several hospitals in Sabah and Sarawak are facing a shortage of medical officers (MOs), with claims that no new doctors reported for permanent appointments this month.
Several hospitals in Sabah and Sarawak are grappling with a critical shortage of medical officers (MOs). Reports indicate no new doctors have reported for permanent appointments this month. Kanowit Hospital in Sarawak, for instance, has only three MOs left to operate the facility after receiving none for permanent positions. Miri Hospital reported 35 MOs for permanent appointments, but only 16 were new, with the rest being contract doctors.
The paediatrics department reportedly received only two new MOs this month. Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad announced earlier that 4,500 contract MOs had been offered permanent roles this year, yet the actual numbers of MOs failing to report remain undisclosed by the ministry. Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) Sabah chairman Dr Brandon Patrick Senagang revealed that of the 138 MOs scheduled for posting across the state, only 47 had shown up for duty as of the latest data.
Keningau Hospital, Beluran Hospital, and Sipitang Hospital are also experiencing similar issues, with limited doctors covering multiple departments and critical areas like the emergency department, wards, and outpatient services.
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