Malaysia

MMA perplexed at continued housemen shortages, asks ministry to explain

What happened to the 3,000 to 5,000 medical graduates being produced each year?

Updated 3 months ago · Published on 19 Jan 2024 6:20PM

 MMA perplexed at continued housemen shortages, asks ministry to explain
Universiti Malaya Medical Centre’s Medicine Department is reportedly cutting certain services due to manpower shortage.

THE MALAYSIAN Medical Association (MMA) is asking the Ministry of Health (MOH) to explain the reasons behind housemen shortages following reports indicating that the problem is still prevalent.

Commenting on the reported dire shortage of housemen at the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC), its president Dr Azizan Abdul Aziz described such a situation at healthcare facilities as concerning as it will have an impact on the delivery of public healthcare services.

Over 70% of the population depend on the public healthcare system for their healthcare needs, she noted in a statement today.

 “It is perplexing to hear that there are housemen shortages especially since between 3,000 to 5,000 medical graduates are being produced each year.

“How many of these medical graduates have entered the healthcare system in the last three years and how many have resigned? How many are not interested in clinical work?”

She noted that an eHO (for e-housemen) portal was set up for medical graduates to choose preferred locations for their placements.

She questioned however if all of them are applying.

“Are medical graduates being too selective over where they wish to serve? The MMA hopes the MOH will shed light on this issue,” she said.

Dr Azizan added that ground sentiments have indicated there were glitches in the eHO system.

She expressed hope that sufficient steps have been taken by the government to rectify the technical issues.

“An explanation from the MOH leadership would help allay the many concerns expressed by colleagues and members of the public concerning the housemen shortages,” she said.

She noted a report by the CodeBlue portal that the UMMC's Medicine Department is cutting certain services and collecting reported cases of suboptimal care or “near misses” resulting from manpower shortage.

“The cutting of services is a concern to be addressed as UMMC is the main public hospital serving the people of Petaling Jaya – a major town in Selangor,” she said.

Dr Azizan also noted concerns that the workload of medical officers (MOs) at UMMC will significantly increase if there is a “Zero HO protocol” initiated as reported.

“We fear this may potentially lead to further burnout and over time, resignations among MOs frustrated with the system,” she said.

As UMMC is a healthcare facility under the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) she expressed hope that both MOH and MOHE will work together towards a more sustainable solution concerning the placements of housemen, housemanship training and the facility's manpower issues.

“These issues have highlighted yet again the urgent need for detailed long-term planning of healthcare human resources and digitalisation of the public healthcare system for data-driven, informed decisions,” she stressed.

“With detailed monitoring of real time data on the public healthcare workforce, we believe these gaps in the distribution of healthcare workers seen nationwide can be efficiently and effectively addressed.” – The Vibes, January 19, 2024

Related News

Opinion / 2mth

Unsafe child bicycle, motorbike helmets still available at retail outlets, online stores – MMA & RSMC

Malaysia / 2mth

MMA proposes shift system to end ‘harrowing’ burnout, brain drain in public healthcare

Malaysia / 2mth

Folks in remote areas missing out on govt-subsidised goods as supplies found lacking

Malaysia / 2mth

Rice supply, cost of living hardship to be raised at action council meeting this Friday

Malaysia / 2mth

Ammonia gas leak: 18 victims including two pregnant women admitted to hospitals

Malaysia / 3mth

Cancer fourth leading cause of death in Malaysia - DOSM 2023 report

Spotlight

Malaysia

Cop pleads not guilty to student’s murder

Malaysia

Banks warn about scammers who impersonate NSRC officers

Malaysia

Jeffrey recalls memories of ISA confinement 33 years later

By Jason Santos

Malaysia

Another uprooted tree damages vehicles in KL, causes road closure

By Alfian Z.M. Tahir

Malaysia

Faisal’s condition improves following skin grafts

Malaysia

Petros to take over natural gas buying, selling from Petronas from July 1

By Desmond Davidson

You may be interested

Malaysia

Group asks govt to regulate fares to help e-hailing drivers

Malaysia

Petros to take over natural gas buying, selling from Petronas from July 1

By Desmond Davidson

Malaysia

MP orders MBPJ to hire arborist for tree maintenance

Malaysia

Sarawak achieves breakthrough in producing ‘rice’ from sago starch

By Desmond Davidson

Malaysia

Anwar meets Hamas leaders in Qatar, urges Israel to cease Gaza ‘massacre’

Malaysia

New Serdang heart centre hit with problems, says report

Malaysia

Children's non-Muslim status upheld by Federal Court

Malaysia

Another uprooted tree damages vehicles in KL, causes road closure

By Alfian Z.M. Tahir