WE need to create more posts for our contract doctors.
The country has doctors but not enough posts for them and as a result, they can’t go on to specialise in a field.
Create more positions for them, offer more scholarships through the Hadiah Latihan Persekutuan (HLP) programme for house officers and medical officers (MO), and give them better and more promising perks to match the private sector’s pay scale. It would encourage them to continue working in the government sector.
The HLP programme is a four-year scholarship the government offers to junior MOs who are confirmed in their service and are keen to apply for specialist training. The offer is, however, limited.
Medical Practitioners Coalition Association of Malaysia president Dr Raj Kumar Maharajah
IT’S not just about whether we have enough specialists but we, as Malaysians, must prioritise our health.
Keep a healthy diet and exercise regularly to avoid problems like obesity, hypertension and diabetes. If we, as a population, can take charge of our lives in this aspect, we would not need so many specialists.
Let’s also not forget that an unhealthy lifestyle leads to multiple health issues in a person.
There is no point in producing so many specialists when we have a huge population of unhealthy people; we will never be able to match the demand.
In terms of ensuring the continuity of care for patients, there must be proper planning, and the adoption of best practices at hospitals.
For example, if a district hospital only has one cardiologist who goes on leave for several days, another hospital should be able to provide backup so that the patient is properly cared for.
Limited time offer:
Just RM5 per month.
