Doctor shortage: Medical officers employed in stages

PUTRAJAYA - Medical officers who have completed their graduate training will be employed in stages as part of the Health Ministry's solution to address the issue of doctor shortage at certain facilities.

Its minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa said that based on the ministry record, a total of 3,226 medical officers will complete graduate training or compulsory service in stages from June to next December.

"Therefore, a total of 675 medical officers will be deployed immediately from July followed by another 1,150 officers in August," she said on Friday.

She said so to explain the vacancy of contract doctors following permanent appointments in the public service.

In line with the vacancies this year, a total of 4,914 contract medical, dental and pharmacy officers have been offered a permanent position by the Public Service Department (PSD).

The number includes a total of 4,263 medical officers, 335 dental officers and 316 pharmacy officers.

Out of the number, a total of 4,907 contract medical, dental and pharmacy officers have accepted the offer on PSD's Permanent Appointment Offer System (mySTP) while seven medical officers have rejected it.

Zaliha said that until Phase 4 execution, a total of 3,405 medical officers have chosen their placement.

"All permanent positions in the peninsula have been fully selected while there are still vacancies in Sabah and Sarawak," she added.

She said that all the vacancies will be offered to reserve candidates.

"In regards to permanent recruitment this time, the Health Ministry has received more than 1,000 appeals from officers to be retained in their current placement," she said.

Among the reasons given were officers facing personal and family health problems, not agreeing to serve in Sabah, Sarawak, Labuan, because the officers had to live far away from their spouses as well as officers about to or starting specialist studies.