Seriously look into housemen shortage

THE dearth of doctors as reported in The Star (“lt’s back to a shortage of doctors”, May 7) is a cause for concern.

Naturally, it will have a domino effect on healthcare workers and the rakyat.

Medical staff working under duress will only translate to reduced quality of services provided, and the possibility of medical errors will only increase.

The shortage of housemen needs to be addressed at the root of it. There was a time when medical graduates had to wait for at least eight months before being offered housemanship.

Part of the reason for the dearth of housemen is that they are put off by the training method used at teaching hospitals.

The approach of pressure and more pressure needs to be completely reviewed. This method seems to be a deterrent for any budding student wanting to pursue a career in medicine.

If they have to undergo two years of training by being “harassed” and “bullied”, they would rather not pursue a degree in medicine, which by the way is no walk in the park.

They might as well study a non-science stream course and live a less stressful and more comfortable life.

For that matter, even medical officers (doctors) with about five years of service, when they pursue a masters course, aren’t treated any better by some of the specialist doctors at the hospitals. These doctors are treated like any other medical student, and are exploited, to a certain extent.

It is high time that the modus operandi of training the medical graduates and medical officers is reviewed, and drastic changes made.

Being in a noble profession, they should be treated as human beings. The humane touch is very important. It can work wonders.

The draconian approach needs to be discarded.

In the education line, the trainees who come for teaching practice are welcomed as part of the school family, and are coached humanely. It should be the same for housemen.

The other main factor for students shunning medicine is the contract system.

If the authorities concerned keep turning a deaf ear and dragging their feet on this issue, surely the medical graduates will want to work overseas where the pay is more lucrative, though being far away from home.

The authorities should be more proactive and look into the matter seriously, and come up with an amicable solution.

The health of the rakyat is of utmost importance, and should not be compromised.

THIAGAN MATHIAPARANAM

Klang, Selangor