KOTA KINABALU, April 11 — Sabah currently has only about 2,884 doctors, far below the estimated requirement of 9,000, highlighting ongoing challenges in meeting the state’s healthcare needs.
KOTA KINABALU, April 11 — Sabah currently has only about 2,884 doctors, far below the estimated requirement of 9,000, highlighting ongoing challenges in meeting the state’s healthcare needs.
Sabah Women, Health and People’s Wellbeing Minister Datuk Julita Majungki said the shortfall points to deeper systemic issues, including declining interest in the medical profession and difficulties in retaining doctors in the state.
She noted that the shortage has strained service delivery, with doctors handling heavier workloads and often working in remote areas with limited facilities and manpower.
“Doctors not only treat patients but also cope with infrastructure and staffing limitations. Despite these challenges, many remain highly committed, particularly in rural areas,” she said when officiating the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) Doctors’ Rights and Responsibilities Seminar at the Sabah International Convention Centre today.
Julita added that, based on national data from the Ministry of Health (MOH), only about 10 per cent of 5,000 new doctor placements were filled at the start of the year, signalling a shrinking pool of medical professionals that could further pressure the healthcare system.
She said the state government has raised Sabah’s healthcare concerns with the MOH, including calls for increased funding to speed up infrastructure development and improve services. The issue has also been discussed at the policy level, including under the technical committee of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
Julita further urged the federal government to review the Bilateral Incentive Payment (BIW) and consider reinstating it to its original form, alongside enhancing cost of living allowances for doctors serving in rural and resource-limited areas to help attract and retain medical personnel in Sabah and Sarawak. — Bernama
WELLINGTON, April 11 — New Zealand’s national forecaster has warned of a potentially “life-threatening” situation as Cyclone Vaianu approaches the North Island, bringing the risk of destructive winds, heavy rain and widespread flooding.
KOTA KINABALU, April 11 — Sabah currently has only about 2,884 doctors, far below the estimated requirement of 9,000, highlighting ongoing challenges in meeting the state’s healthcare needs.
JAKARTA, April 10 — Indonesia’s sovereign wealth fund Danantara Indonesia has set up a new state-owned entity to speed up investment in waste-to-energy projects, amid rising demand for more sustainable waste management solutions.