Segera tempatkan doktor dari Semenanjung, MMA beritahu KKM

The Sabah Medical Association (MMA) has urged the Malaysian Ministry of Health (KKM) to urgently deploy more doctors from the mainland to address critical hospital and healthcare facility shortages in Sabah. Dr Brandon Patrick Senagang, the association's president, emphasized the necessity of this intervention following reports of doctors working continuously for 48 to 72 hours without sufficient rest, raising serious concerns about their well-being and the continuity of healthcare services.

The Ministry of Health has confirmed that 11 out of 19 medical staff at Hospital Ranau have been replaced with new permanent hires, while only one of seven replacements from outside Sabah has responded, leaving the hospital operating with only nine doctors, including the head.

MMA Sabah also reported nationwide staffing shortages, with an estimated 245 medical staff missing across the country, and 67% of replacement candidates from outside Sabah failing to respond for duty. While the association appreciates the KKM's efforts to deploy three additional doctors to Hospital Ranau on a temporary basis, it stressed that this measure alone is insufficient due to similar staffing shortages across various healthcare facilities nationwide.

The MMA has called upon the KKM to implement a regular and immediate deployment program from the mainland, prioritizing healthcare facilities facing critical staffing and workload issues. The association also urged the KKM to consider a clear timeframe for deployment, including travel and accommodation allowances, as well as adequate operational support.

Furthermore, it called for a long-term solution involving increasing the Basic Area Incentive (BIW) pay and strengthening incentives for posting in non-metropolitan and East Malaysian regions, along with providing safe transportation and accommodation assistance, clear assignment timelines, and career advancement opportunities.

The MMA also stressed the need for joint action involving the KKM, the Public Service Department, the Finance Ministry, and the Sabah government to address the staffing crisis through appropriate funding, incentives, and practical support, as immediate action is crucial to safeguarding patients and preserving the well-being of doctors in the state.