By NNN-Bernama,
Klang, Malaysia : As many as 9,000 more doctors and specialists are still needed as government medical personnel especially in the fields of surgery, dentistry and pharmacy.
Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai said the number was to fill 40 percent of positions in public health centres including hospitals and government clinics.
Sixty percent had been filled since 2003, he said.
He said in the last five years, 112 doctors and specialists working abroad had returned to serve in the country in the fields of surgery, dentistry and pharmacology.
However, Liow said, that number was small compared to the number of doctors and specialists needed to meet the people’s health requirements in government hospitals and clinics throughout the country.
He said the shortage was due to the lucrative wages abroad that led to doctors and specialists working overseas.
Liow added that there were students who furthered their medical studies in institutions of higher learning abroad and were not eligible to serve as medical officers here as the institutions concerned were not recognised by the Malaysian government.
“The government is reviewing wages and grades to (be in line with) the public sector’s premier grades C to A to encourage doctors and specialists overseas to return and serve here.
“For students whose qualifications are not recognised, the government introduced special examinations and if they pass, they can serve as medical practioners in public hospitals and clinics,” he told reporters after officiating the annual general meeting of the The Federation of Alumni Associations of Taiwan Universities, Malaysia here Sunday.
Liow said the government also encouraged specialists from either the public sector or those retired from government service to volunteer and help out at government hospitals and clinics.
Meanwhile, he said eight Taiwanese medical universities were recognised by his ministry since 1997.