PETALING JAYA: Authorities must act decisively by expanding specialist training programmes and offering better incentives to address the ongoing shortage of medical professionals, experts say.
Malaysian Association for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery honorary secretary Prof Dr John Chan Kok Meng said specialist training was previously confined to universities through their Masters programmes.
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“However, the universities and university teaching hospitals have limited capacity.
“The amendment to the Medical Act 1971 last year now permits the Health Ministry to offer specialist training in its hospitals via a parallel pathway, significantly increasing the country’s training capacity,” he said yesterday.
Despite this progress, Dr Chan expressed concern that the amended Medical Act has yet to be enforced, highlighting the urgency of its implementation.
“Until last year, the criteria for specialist registration were also very restrictive. In cardiothoracic surgery, for example, only four qualifications were recognised – one each from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia.
“Without one of these qualifications, practising as a specialist in cardiothoracic surgery in Malaysia was impossible,” he said.
Fortunately, the amendment to the Medical Act 1971 has expanded this list.
“Now, eight qualifications in cardiothoracic surgery are recognised.
“More importantly, the Malaysian Medical Council can now recognise specialists trained elsewhere, providing flexibility in registering specialists and moving beyond the previous restrictive list,” Dr Chan added.
Private Hospitals Malaysia Association president Datuk Dr Kuljit Singh said private hospitals experience varied demands for specialists, influenced by location and the type of specialities offered.
“Some private hospitals are multi-discipline, while others are more general, affecting their staffing needs.
“By law, hospitals must have at least one full-time specialist to offer specific services,” he explained.
This requirement can lead to shortages if hospitals aim to expand their services.
Dr Kuljit said, unlike private hospitals, the government was obligated to provide comprehensive healthcare services and is more acutely aware of areas with specialist shortages.
To fulfil the demand for medical specialists in the government sector, he suggested intensifying and refining specialisation programmes.
Additionally, Dr Kuljit proposed offering incentives to entice Malaysian specialists working abroad to return home and contribute to the healthcare system.
