{
  "id": 11099712,
  "title": "Reported doctor no-shows in Sabah and Sarawak prompt MMA call for incentive overhaul",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/reported-doctor-no-shows-in-sabah-and-sarawak-prompt-mma-call-for",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-10-01T03:44:23.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Malay Mail",
    "slug": "malay-mail-malaymail",
    "url": "https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/10/01/reported-doctor-no-shows-in-sabah-and-sarawak-prompt-mma-call-for-incentive-overhaul/237219"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) has urged the government to reconsider the current Regional Incentive Payment (BIW) system and introduce stronger incentives to attract and retain medical officers (MOs) in Sabah and Sarawak, following widespread no-shows among medical officers posted to permanent positions in the two states. Reports indicate that some facilities received no new medical officers, while others faced no-show rates of up to 76 per cent. The MMA president, Dr Sivanaesan Letchumanan, highlighted the systemic issues contributing to the problem, including the strain on understaffed departments, the financial and logistical challenges of relocating, and inadequate support for doctors in East Malaysia. He emphasized the urgent need to revert to a percentage-based BIW system and suggested additional incentives such as housing assistance, transport support, and retention bonuses to improve the situation.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "MMA calls for Borneo incentive to be restored amid doctor no-show reports",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/mma-calls-for-borneo-incentive-to-be-restored-amid-doctor-no-show",
        "published": "2026-10-01T03:05:48.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "Reported doctor no-shows in Sabah and Sarawak prompt MMA call for incentive overhaul",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/reported-doctor-no-shows-in-sabah-and-sarawak-prompt-mma-call-for-11104530",
        "published": "2026-10-01T03:44:23.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}