PETALING JAYA: Medical officers appointed under the second phase of permanent appointments should report for duty by Oct 7, as the placement process remains ongoing, says the Health Ministry.
The ministry urged all officers who had yet to report for duty to do so promptly ahead of the Oct 7 deadline.
It noted that the second phase involved 4,255 medical officers who were offered placements through the ePlacement system.
In a statement, the ministry said the reporting-in process for Grade UD10 medical officers, whose permanent appointments took effect on Sept 28, was still underway.
It also urged all parties not to jump to conclusions while the placement process was ongoing.
“The ministry asks all parties to allow the placement process to proceed smoothly,” it added.
However, the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) has expressed concern over reports of high “no-show” rates among medical officers assigned to permanent postings in Sabah and Sarawak.
Its president, Dr Sivanaesan Letchumanan, cited reports that a number of medical officers failed to report for duty on Sept 28.
“Some facilities reportedly received no new medical officers, while others recorded no-show rates of between 70% and 76%,” he said in a statement yesterday.
Dr Sivanaesan called on the authorities to verify and publish the official figures.
He said the trend of contract medical officers declining these offers warns that work conditions in Borneo States are deterring healthcare professionals.
“This is not simply about permanent versus contract employment,” Dr Sivanaesan explained.
“Doctors may be required to relocate far from their families, bear substantial moving costs, and serve in severely understaffed facilities with demanding workloads and, in some areas, inadequate accommodation and support.”
The MMA urged the government to introduce incentives for healthcare workers there.
“We must stop blaming doctors and start asking why the system is failing to attract and retain them,” he said.
“An empty post does not treat a patient.”
The MMA listed recommendations for government action, starting with financial and compensation reforms.
It called for a return to the previous percentage-based Regional Incentive Payment.
Additionally, it recommended establishing a dedicated Borneo States service allowance for medical officers, accompanied by supplementary incentives.
Beyond direct allowances, the MMA urged the government to overhaul relocation assistance and clarify posting terms.
Moving allowances should be reviewed to reflect actual costs and disbursed before relocation.
For doctors whose long-term goal is to serve in Peninsular Malaysia, the association proposed setting clear, fixed time frames for Borneo States postings, supported by a transparent transfer pathway upon completion.
The MMA also said that rural living quarters must be upgraded to ensure they are safe, well-maintained, and equipped with reliable water and electricity supply, Internet connectivity and transport options.
To further motivate medical professionals, the association said that rural service should count toward career progression, directly supporting postgraduate training, specialist pathways, promotions and preferred future placements.
Dr Brandon Patrick Senagang, who is MMA Sabah branch chairman, said the government must improve incentives and welfare benefits for outstation medical officers to be posted in Sabah because the doctor shortage problem is reaching a critical point.
He said the latest reports showed that only 47 of the 138 medical officers, or 34%, expected to report to hospitals across the state had done so.
In a statement, Dr Brandon said that manpower shortage cannot be solved by asking the remaining doctors to put in more work as this risks creating a cycle of understaffing, exhaustion and further attrition, ultimately affecting patients.
He said the large number of medical officers who did not take up postings in Sabah should be regarded as a serious warning.
Both federal and state governments must work together to reform the healthcare system, he added.
