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MALAYSIA’S public healthcare system stands at a critical juncture. Much has been said about reform, efficiency, and innovation, yet a fundamental issue continues to receive insufficient attention: the steady loss of specialist doctors from the public sector.
Between 2019 and 2023, more than 1,100 specialists resigned or exited the Health Ministry’s service. This is not an abstract statistic. Each departure represents the loss of years of publicly-funded training, clinical expertise, mentorship for junior doctors, and continuity of care for patients who depend on government hospitals.
