Sabah short of 245 medical officers after replacements fail to turn up

Sabah faces a shortage of 245 medical officers following the second phase of a permanent appointment exercise, with transfers failing to materialize. The Sabah health department revealed that 67% of replacement candidates from outside the state did not report for duty despite accepting permanent appointments. Ranau Hospital, for instance, is currently short-staffed with only nine medical officers, including the hospital director, after the exercise resulted in the transfer of 11 out of its original 19 medical officers.

The health ministry had previously identified seven replacement officers from outside Sabah, but only one has thus far reported to duty. In response to the staffing crisis, the department plans to deploy three temporary, or floater, medical officers to Ranau Hospital between October 28 and November 11. Furthermore, the health ministry will conduct a special permanent appointment exercise for medical officers, with placements expected to commence in February.