KUALA LUMPUR – The severe shortage of medical specialists in the country’s healthcare system is to blame for the long queues of patients in hospitals, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.
Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin (Rembau-BN) said as of 2019, the country has around 13,000 specialists, of which 6,183 are in the public sector.
This, he added, is far short of the government’s target of having 28,000 specialists by 2030.
“This is why there is an issue with waiting times in hospitals, and also why we need to optimise existing facilities to reduce waits.”
Khairy said it is also pertinent that the Finance Ministry commits to providing the necessary funding to train existing doctors as specialists, in order to fulfil the country’s demand in 10 years’ time.
“By that time, there will be an increase in the burden of diseases and of non-communicable diseases because of our ageing society. We need a huge number of specialists that we need to start training from now.”
He was responding to Rusnah Aluai (Tangga Batu-PH) who asked why patients have to wait a long time to meet doctors in hospitals, some waiting for up to months.
This is after Khairy had earlier said the country already has an abundance of doctors in hospitals, resulting in many contract medical staff not being given permanent posts.
The minister added that the government understands the concerns raised by contract doctors who are uncertain about their futures, which is why a number of incentives have been introduced, including extending their contracts by two years.
Beyond this, he said the government is also now offering contract staff an opportunity to apply to further their medical studies, a privilege previously only given to full-time medical workers.
To another question by Abdul Latiff Abdul Rahman (Kuala Krai-PAS) on why a large number of specialists are leaving the public healthcare system, Khairy said this is due to the better pay and benefits offered by the private sector.
“Although we increase their allowances from time to time, we still can’t compete with the private sector,” said the minister.
He added that the government has given leeway to medical specialists to take a day off each week for them to work in the private sector for additional income.
“Perhaps we must look at what other benefits we can offer to them so they remain in the public healthcare system.” – The Vibes, September 15, 2021
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