13,000 jawatan kosong doktor, termasuk 1,660 doktor pakar

Information Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad disclosed that the Malaysian Health Ministry currently has 13,072 vacant doctor positions as of June 30, including 1,660 specialist doctor vacancies. Minister Dzulkefly stated that 3,510 medical staff have transferred their positions between 2024 and 2026, comprising 1,252 permanent contract doctors and 2,258 contract doctors.

Of those medical staff who transferred, 51.4% moved to the private sector, 36.8% left for personal reasons, and 4.5% joined religious organizations. Additionally, 2.9% of these doctors work or reside abroad, 2.6% left due to health issues, 1.5% continued their education, and 0.3% opened their own clinics. The Minister also revealed that eight specialist doctors left the country or retired.

Dzulkefly made these remarks in a written response to Parliament in response to a question from V Ganabatirau (PH-Klang) regarding doctors who left the profession or migrated abroad, doctor vacancies, the shortage of specialist doctors, the waiting period for trainee registration, and the effectiveness of measures to retain doctors in public health service.

The Health Ministry has hired 14,064 permanent medical staff and 9,847 contract medical staff in the same period. To address the workforce shortage, the Ministry has offered 4,500 contract doctors permanent positions in 2024. A team in the Department of Public Services, established in April last year, is investigating the issue of workforce.

Meanwhile, the Health Ministry has been given greater authority to manage and distribute positions to expedite the recruitment process. Dzulkefly noted that six government hospitals have reached the target of treating at least 70% of non-emergency patients within two hours, compared to the previous average of four to six hours. Regarding the waiting period in hospitals, six government hospitals have achieved the highest ratio, with Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital in Ipoh recording 98.61% of green-zone patients treated within two hours.

This is followed by Hospital Ampang (88.78%), Hospital Selayang (74.1%), Hospital Sultanah Aminah in Johor Bahru (73.2%), Hospital Tengku Ampuan Rahimah in Klang (72.2%), and Hospital Kuala Lumpur (71.8%). The Minister also explained a 9% reduction in patient arrivals at six major hospitals following the extension of elective surgery hours to 9 pm for hospitals operating during the day and 1 pm on weekends and public holidays.

This allows patients with minor health issues to divert from emergency hospital departments. Dzulkefly also mentioned that all eight initiatives under the Special Agency Reform Unit to reduce hospital congestion have been fully implemented by June last year. Other steps include the release of outpatient treatment to private practice patients, the expansion of digital screening for non-emergency patients before visiting the clinic (including 545 health clinics), and improving patient flow in government hospitals.