KOTA KINABALU: Health unions propose that state governments offer RM10,000 as an incentive package to encourage more doctors from Peninsular Malaysia and other states to take up postings in Sabah and Sarawak amid ongoing shortages of medical personnel.
Council of Unions' Presidents and Secretary-General under the Ministry of Health Malaysia (Mapsu) president Ajulahin Japin said the proposal comprises a RM5,000 payment upon reporting for duty to help cover relocation cum initial settlement expenses, followed by another RM5,000 after completing three years of service.
He said the incentive could make postings in the two states more attractive while ensuring the continuity of healthcare services, particularly in rural and remote communities that rely heavily on government healthcare facilities.
"Many doctors consider relocation costs, welfare concerns and posting-related challenges when deciding whether to accept placements in Sabah and Sarawak," he said in a statement on Wednesday (Oct 14).
Ajulahin, who is also president of the Sabah Medical Services Union, said the doctor shortage in Sabah was not solely due to a lack of medical graduates nationwide, but was also linked to doctors' willingness to serve in Sabah and Sarawak.
Ajulahin said that the proposed incentive scheme should be regarded as an interim measure rather than a permanent solution.
"The scheme could be reviewed and eventually discontinued once Sabah and Sarawak produce enough local medical graduates to meet their healthcare workforce requirements," he added.
Ajulahin also urged the Public Service Department (JPA) to review pension policies and the Regional Incentive Allowance (BIW), explaining that remuneration and long-term welfare assurances remain important factors influencing doctors' decisions to serve in Sabah and Sarawak.
Mapsu also said financial incentives alone would not solve the problem, urging state health authorities to ensure adequate housing, transportation and other basic support facilities for doctors posted from outside the state.
The union body said efforts to address the shortage of doctors must include a comprehensive approach encompassing financial incentives, welfare support, placement facilities and improvements in service conditions to ensure equitable access to quality healthcare services regardless of location.
Mapsu hoped that the Sabah and Sarawak State governments, the Health Ministry and the Public Service Department (JPA) will seriously consider the proposal and discuss finding practical and immediate solutions for the benefit of healthcare workers and the people of Sabah and Sarawak.
"Failure to resolve the long-standing doctor shortage has resulted in patients waiting for hours at outpatient departments in healthcare facilities," he said.
Mapsu cited the example of the outpatient department at Ranau Hospital in Sabah, where a single doctor must attend to nearly 200 patients daily while the 24-hour emergency department has only two doctors handling between 80 and 100 patients.
"Such workloads are extremely demanding, even with the assistance of assistant medical officers. The well-being of Sabahans is significantly affected, and Mapsu's proposal should be positively received by the state government elected by the people," he said.
