{
  "id": 11850003,
  "title": "Masidi urges Putrajaya to address Sabah doctor shortage in upcoming Budget 2027",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/04/masidi-urges-putrajaya-to-address-sabah-doctor-shortage-in-upcoming",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-10-04T05:07:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Vibes",
    "slug": "the-vibes",
    "url": "https://www.thevibes.com/articles/news/127965/masidi-urges-putrajaya-to-address-sabah-doctor-shortage-in-upcoming-budget-2027"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Deputy Chief Minister II Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun has cautioned that a shortage of young doctors in Sabah poses a threat to rural hospitals. Speaking after the MRSM Ranau graduation ceremony, Masidi emphasized the need for the Federal Budget to address this issue with higher incentives, improved housing, and upgraded hospital infrastructure. He highlighted that young doctors from Peninsular Malaysia are reluctant to work in Sabah due to inadequate allowances, relocation costs, and prolonged separation from family. Masidi stressed that addressing the staffing shortage requires more than just monetary rewards, stressing the importance of hospital facilities, accommodation, and recruiting additional nurses and support staff. He also called for better support services to prevent burnout. Regarding financial matters, Masidi reiterated Sabah's anticipation of the RM900 million allocated to the state, requesting additional budgetary support for ministries critical to Sabah's development. Masidi praised MRSM Ranau for being the top-performing medical training institution in Sabah and Sarawak and the fourth-best among 56 nationwide, with the institution benefiting from a joint investment by the Sabah Government, Mara, and Petronas. He encouraged the 65 graduating students to achieve their dreams while remembering to support those still pursuing their careers.",
  "summary": "SABAH’S worsening struggle to recruit and retain medical officers threatens to paralyse rural hospitals unless directly addressed in the upcoming Federal Budget, warned Deputy Chief Minister II Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun. Expressing deep concern over t...",
  "key_points": [
    "Deputy Chief Minister Masidi warns Sabah faces doctor shortage crisis.",
    "Calls for higher incentives, better housing, upgraded hospitals in Budget 2027.",
    "Praises MRSM Ranau as top medical training institution in region."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Masidi's push for targeted Budget 2027 allocations signals a bid to overhaul Sabah's healthcare recruitment strategy and retain doctors, addressing concerns that inadequate incentives drive young medical professionals away.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "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."
}