TUESDAY-29 JULY 2008- PROPOSAL TO EASE REQUIREMENTS FOR DOCTORS WORKING OVERSEAS UNFAIR, SAYS MMA

Proposal to ease requirements for doctors working overseas unfair, says MMA

KUALA LUMPUR:

The Health Ministry’s proposal to ease a requirement compelling each doctor to serve at a Government hospital for three years to lure Malaysian doctors working overseas to come home and work is unfair to local graduates, the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) said yesterday. MMA President Datuk Dr Khoo Kah Lin said the proposal was unjust because it would require local graduates to work with the Government for five years upon graduation, as compared to the current three years. “The MMA wishes to express this proposal is not fair to local graduates whereby previously, everyone needed to complete three years compulsory service with the Government. “Now, with the implementation of two years of housemanship, doctors must work for five years with the Government,” he said in a statement. Recently, the Ministry said it was studying a proposal to ease the requirement compelling each doctor to serve at a Government hospital for three years, in an effort to bring Malaysian doctors working overseas d back home to work here. The Ministry, it was reported, was ready to consider discarding the mandatory requirement for doctors aged 45 and above to work at e Government hospitals because these doctors had acquired experience and skills from working abroad. “At the moment, there are already various incentives given to them (Malaysian doctors working overseas) including tax exemptions. Even with the perks accorded them, only 100 doctors have returned home, so far. “The MMA agrees that the country needs more doctors serving in Government facilities. Currently, there are between 300 and 400 doctors resigning from Government service every year to practise privately. “High rates of resignation are due to dissatisfaction with Government service, which include heavy is workload, poor working conditions and low remuneration,” said Dr Khoo. - Bernama