Health Ministry denies HKL facing shortage of doctors

 

The Health Ministry today denied that there is a shortage of doctors at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital (HKL) and Tunku Azizah Hospital (HTA).

This came in response to a viral letter which showed HKL's top management planning a meeting today to discuss the matter.

In a statement, the Health Ministry said the HKL meeting was held only to discuss coordination to ensure that medical services at the hospitals will continue to run smoothly when a transfer exercise happens later this month.

According to the ministry, an unspecified number of medical officers will be involved in a transfer out of the hospitals on July 18.

“In line with the transfer out exercise involving medical officers from HKL and HTA this July 18, the Health Ministry has also planned for medical officers from other states to be transferred to the two hospitals as a replacement, which will take effect on the same day.

“This exercise is a normal procedure practised by the ministry in executing orders and processing requests for staff transfer from time to time.

“Thus, there is no issue of a medical officer shortage crisis at HKL and HTA,” said the statement issued by the ministry’s corporate communications this evening.

HTA refers to the Kuala Lumpur Women’s and Children’s Hospital, located adjacent to HKL.

Shortage to worsen?

Yesterday, the group Hartal Doktor Kontrak (HDK) tweeted an internal letter signed by HKL deputy director (medical) Dr Marina Abdullah Sani stating that they expect to have a shortage of medical officers in the coming weeks due to the exit of junior doctors starting from July 18.

The group also said that the doctor shortage crisis would only worsen.

However, what the Health Ministry said today is in contrast to what a source close to HKL had told Malaysiakini.

The source claimed that the exodus of medical officers was due to contract extensions - which were offered to junior doctors without the promise of a permanent role.