Lawmaker says foreign doctors could help ease Sabah, Sarawak shortage

Dr Kelvin Yii, the Bandar Kuching member of parliament, has suggested that the government should consider recruiting foreign doctors to address the shortage of medical officers in Sabah and Sarawak. The shortage has worsened over the past few years, with the rate of medical officers failing to report for permanent appointments rising to 66 per cent this month in Sabah, according to Dr Yii.

He proposed that the government could recruit international graduates who have been trained at Malaysian medical universities, provided that appropriate patient safety safeguards are in place. This would serve as a temporary solution to the problem, not a long-term fix to improve the pay and career prospects of local doctors. Dr Yii emphasized that the situation is no longer a warning sign but an emergency, citing the Malaysian Medical Association's report which showed rates of medical officers failing to report for permanent postings in Sabah and Sarawak.

Several hospitals in the region are struggling with severe manpower shortages, with Beluran Hospital having only six doctors and Kudat Hospital receiving only four out of 17 doctors, according to Dr Yii. He urged the government to restore percentage-based Borneo Incentive (BIW) payments for healthcare workers in Sabah and Sarawak, provide upfront relocation assistance based on actual costs, and establish a Health Services Commission with the authority to determine remuneration independently of schemes governing the wider public service.

Dr Yii also suggested promoting doctors immediately upon permanent appointment, making service in Sabah and Sarawak an incentive for securing specialist training places, setting clear durations for mandatory service and corresponding packages, and ensuring clear career benefits after mandatory service.