I AM deeply saddened and extremely upset after reading the letters "It's not just about money" (The Star, March 20, 2023) and "Issues are still waiting to be resolved" (The Star, March 17, 2023). Being a human resource specialist for more than 20 years, I can completely relate to the problems faced by public healthcare professionals.
From what I gather, not only are the graduates of the Parallel Pathway facing hurdles, but doctors who apply to do their Masters at local public universities as well as specialists who wish to go for subspecialty training also face problems. Instead of supporting their human resources in pursuing career enhancement, some department heads choose to frustrate them by employing delaying tactics in processing and signing off on their applications, thus scuttling the Health Minister’s efforts to increase the number of specialists in Malaysia's public healthcare system.
