SEVERAL hospitals across Sabah and Sarawak are grappling with severe staffing shortages after a significant number of medical officers (MOs) failed to report for duty for permanent appointments this month.
While the Ministry of Health (MOH) has not released official figures regarding non-reporting medical officers, social media posts on Threads have highlighted acute shortages across East Malaysian healthcare facilities.
According to online reports, Kanowit Hospital in Sarawak received no new medical officers for permanent positions, leaving just three doctors to manage the entire facility. At Miri Hospital, out of 35 medical officers reporting for permanent placement, 16 were new intakes while the remainder were existing contract officers already serving at the facility.
A doctor at the facility reported that the paediatric department received only two new medical officers this month.
In July, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad announced that 4,500 contract medical officers were offered permanent appointments this year following negotiations between the Ministry of Health and central agencies.
Ministry data shows that the number of medical officers failing to report for permanent positions rose from 78 out of 3,215 offers in 2022 to 1,118 out of 5,489 offers in 2023.
Sabah Medical Association (MMA) Chairman Dr Brandon Patrick Senagang confirmed in a statement yesterday that out of 138 medical officers scheduled for placement across Sabah hospitals, only 47 had reported for duty when data was collected.
Keningau Hospital reportedly received zero medical officers on Monday. Sabah health facilities currently operate with fewer than 10 medical officers per department, including five in surgery, eight in general medicine, and six each in orthopaedics and paediatrics.
Beluran Hospital similarly recorded no new additions following non-reporting by assigned personnel. Only six doctors currently manage the entire facility, including emergency services, wards, outpatient care, referrals, transfers, and hospital escorts. A doctor at Beluran Hospital claimed that records indicated the facility was due to receive five to six new placements.
Sipitang Hospital faces a similar scenario, leaving operations in the hands of eight medical officers. The Kudat Division Health Office was allocated 17 permanent postings but only four medical officers reported for duty. Ranau Hospital currently operates with six medical officers after three doctors rejected permanent offers and only one reported for duty on Monday. - October 1, 2026
