KUALA LUMPUR - The ratio of anaesthesia specialists in Malaysia currently stands at only 3.32 per 100,000 population, well below the minimum threshold compared to the World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists (WFSA) standards, which recommend a ratio of five specialists per 100,000 people.
Dr Mohammad Nizam Mokhtar, an anaesthesiologist from the Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Department, Faculty of Medicine, Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, said the shortage is more noticeable in rural areas, such as the interior regions of Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak.
"This shortage forces district hospitals to rely on medical officers or their assistants who only possess basic anaesthesia training, and this significantly impacts the country's healthcare system.
"Delays in obtaining anaesthesia treatment can lead to postponement of surgeries and an increased risk of complications during surgery," he said in a statement recently.
Dr Mohammad Nizam added rural hospitals frequently deal with emergency cases such as childbirth complications, road accidents and paediatric emergencies, with the lack of anaesthesiologists making it challenging for them to manage the cases efficiently.
He said Thailand, for example, trains anaesthesia nurses to expand access to treatment in rural areas while Australia and New Zealand have established government-supported rural anaesthesia networks to ensure better access to care.
Therefore, he suggested that Malaysia adopt strategic measures, including introducing a Rural Generalist Anaesthesia (RGA) training programme similar to those implemented in Australia and Canada to address the shortage of anaesthesiologists in rural areas.
"This programme aims to train rural general medical officers so that they can provide anaesthesia services safely and effectively by acquiring additional skills," he said.
He further proposed utilising tele-anaesthesia technology, which employs telecommunications and digital tools to offer remote guidance, monitoring and support to rural medical officers, thus ensuring safer anaesthesia treatment for patients in district hospitals facing a shortage of specialists.
Dr Mohammad Nizam also proposed strengthening the country’s critical patient transfer system, mainly through The Flying Doctor Service, which has provided basic healthcare and periodic medical treatment in rural areas, especially in Sabah and Sarawak, since 1977.
"However, this service needs to be improved by taking inspiration from New Zealand's air retrieval services, which focuses on transferring critically ill patients from rural hospitals to major medical centres for further treatment.
"The shortage of anaesthesiologists is not just a workforce issue but a systemic healthcare challenge that needs urgent attention. If not addressed promptly, it could have long-term consequences on the country’s ability to provide safe and high-quality medical services," he added. - BERNAMA