Becoming a medical doctor is a dream of many students. Some choose the profession for its nobleness, others for its social status and monetary reward. However, seeing the persistent predicament faced by Malaysia’s contract doctors may cause young Malaysians to have second thoughts in pursuing a medical degree and serve in the country.
Due to a glut in medical graduates, the Malaysian government introduced a contract system in 2016, offering medical graduates a 3+4-year contract to serve in public hospitals. After that, some would receive a permanent employment, while many others have to leave after the 3rd or the 7th year. According to statistics, as many as 15,000 doctors in government hospitals would lose their jobs between 2019 and 2025.
Meanwhile, there is a severe shortage of certain medical specialists in the country because school admission policy leads to insufficient medical students being trained in that area. The imbalance in producing medical doctors in various fields is a serious problem for the country. This is another economic development problem that should receive proper attention if Malaysia wants to be a truly developed nation. Achieving high GDP growth without economic development is futile in the long run.
Due to a glut in medical graduates, the Malaysian government introduced a contract system in 2016, offering medical graduates a 3+4-year contract to serve in public hospitals. After that, some would receive a permanent employment, while many others have to leave after the 3rd or the 7th year. According to statistics, as many as 15,000 doctors in government hospitals would lose their jobs between 2019 and 2025.
Meanwhile, there is a severe shortage of certain medical specialists in the country because school admission policy leads to insufficient medical students being trained in that area. The imbalance in producing medical doctors in various fields is a serious problem for the country. This is another economic development problem that should receive proper attention if Malaysia wants to be a truly developed nation. Achieving high GDP growth without economic development is futile in the long run.
