PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) has raised concerns over the nation’s ability to meet its target of producing 28,000 medical specialists in the public healthcare sector by 2030, warning that current training rates are insufficient to keep up with growing healthcare demands.
Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) president Datuk Dr Kalwinder Singh Khaira said the country should continue setting clear targets and reviewing healthcare needs in line with population growth, with more decisive efforts needed to expand specialist training pathways.
“What we need most of all is for doctors in the public service to be encouraged to specialise early on in their careers and to be provided with all the support.
“It has always been the MMA’s view that training avenues for specialisation be made more accessible and convenient.
“For this purpose, both the local Masters and Parallel Pathway programmes must be supported,” he said when contacted yesterday.
According to Dr Kalwinder, while Masters programme placements have increased to over 1,500 annually, expansion remains limited by the number of public university teaching hospitals available.
“Government hospitals have always served as training centres for parallel pathway programmes, and this is a strength we must capitalise on.
“With the extensive network of government hospitals and experienced senior doctors, more medical officers could be trained as specialists,” he added.
Dr Kalwinder also proposed allowing doctors to undergo supervised, structured training while remaining at their current workplaces to encourage greater uptake of specialist training.
He said frequent relocations and disruptions to family life during training have deterred some from pursuing specialisation.
“The MMA also welcomed the government’s move last year to amend the Medical Act 1971 to better facilitate parallel pathway programmes,” he added, describing it as “a step in the right direction”.
However, Dr Kalwinder raised concerns about the current requirement for doctors to secure the Hadiah Latihan Persekutuan (HLP) scholarship before entering specialist training, calling for a review of the policy.
“The limited number of HLP awards, which are offered only once a year, has led to delays for many doctors, particularly those pursuing parallel pathway programmes.
“This system discourages many from specialising, as plans change and other career options open up while they wait for opportunities,” he said.
Dr Kalwinder suggested that the Health Ministry consider relooking at the HLP requirement, especially for doctors willing to self-fund their specialist training, as how it was allowed in the past.
He also proposed increasing the number of specialist programme intakes throughout the year to further encourage participation.
The MMA, he said, called on the ministry to provide updated projections on the number of specialists needed in various fields.
The Star, in its front-page report yesterday, noted that stakeholders are concerned over the shortage of medical specialists in the country, calling for authorities to take decisive action to address the issue.
