KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 1 — A Warisan leader has sounded the alarm on the high number of medical officers not reporting for duty for permanent positions in Sabah and Sarawak, describing it as a “crisis”.
Warisan health bureau chief Dr Istefan Koh pointed out that the number of permanent appointment letters issued doesn’t necessarily reflect the actual strength of the public health care system if a significant proportion of officers do not report for duty or leave the service after only a few years.
“Ultimately, the no-show issue should not be viewed simply as a matter of doctors rejecting job offers. It is an indication that Malaysia’s health care workforce strategy may need to move beyond merely filling vacancies towards retaining its workforce,” said Dr Koh in a statement.
