NST Leader: Make Borneo postings feasible for doctors

Every year, newly appointed government medical practitioners in Malaysia report to their designated healthcare facilities for duty. However, there has been a troubling trend of medical professionals from the peninsula refusing to serve in Sabah and Sarawak. Dr Brandon Patrick Senagang, the chairman of the Sabah Malaysian Medical Association, highlighted the shortage of medical practitioners in the state, revealing that out of 138 medical officers expected to report to their postings, only 47 had done so.

Similarly, Sarawak is grappling with a severe shortage of doctors, with the Miri Hospital, the state's second-largest, also affected. Health Ministry statistics show that the number of medical practitioners who failed to report for permanent appointments increased significantly from 2022 to 2023, with 78 out of 3,215 offers not reporting in 2022, rising to 1,118 out of 5,489 offers in 2023.

The reasons for medical practitioners from the peninsula rejecting postings in Sabah or Sarawak could be attributed to the perceived distance, especially if the locations are remote. Consequently, the Health Ministry must investigate whether the incentives offered for relocating from the peninsula to Borneo are sufficient to compensate for the challenges of serving in East Malaysia.

Financial incentives, such as the Borneo Incentive for Workers, appear crucial, particularly for doctors posted far from their families. The Malaysian Medical Association has suggested restoring the percentage-based Borneo Incentive payments instead of the fixed rate currently in place. Additional incentives might include housing assistance, transportation support, and retention bonuses, with the suggestion that relocation costs be paid in advance instead of later through a cumbersome claims process.

Yet, the government must go beyond these practical and financial incentives. Making Borneo postings more attractive could involve offering faster access to specialist training opportunities. In other words, while such incentives may help overcome the perception of hardship postings, the ministry should present a compelling case that accepting Borneo postings will fast-track the career advancement of these medical practitioners.

The urgency to fill vacancies for doctors in the two states is paramount, as the existing doctors are overwhelmed, further reinforcing the perception of both states as hardship postings. While the medical profession is a noble calling, the government must address the practical constraints doctors may face in accepting calls to serve in Sabah and Sarawak.