The obstetrics and gynaecology (O&G) specialist clinic in Segamat Hospital, Johor, is set to shut its doors following a severe shortage of medical officers.
In a circular dated June 3, the hospital’s director, Dr Anwar Rasyid Ahmad, revealed that the clinic will be closed indefinitely on July 1.
The circular was addressed to the health department directors of Johor, Pahang, and Negeri Sembilan, hospital directors, district health officers, and several senior O&G specialists.
Malaysiakini sighted the document that was provided by a government source. Another government source with knowledge of the matter confirmed the circular’s legitimacy.
Anwar said the critical shortage of medical officers has compromised the department’s capacity to manage referral cases and ensure the health and care of obstetric and gynaecology patients.
“Following this worsening workforce crisis, the O&G specialist clinic at Segamat Hospital will also be closed with effect from July 1, 2026, until a date to be announced.
“It is to also be informed that a discussion was held with the national O&G head of speciality, the Johor state O&G head of speciality, the Pahang state O&G head of speciality, and the Negeri Sembilan state O&G head of speciality.
“Following the discussion and mutual agreement, it has been decided that referrals for stable and elective O&G cases from facilities within the district of Rompin, Pahang, and Gemas, Negeri Sembilan, to Segamat Hospital are suspended with immediate effect from June 1, 2026, until a period to be announced in due course,” the circular read.
Affected patients were also instructed to be redirected to specialist hospitals within their respective states.
Those from health facilities in Rompin (health clinic and district hospital) were suggested to be diverted to the Muadzam Shah Hospital in Pahang, which provides visiting specialist services, or to Pekan Hospital.
Patients from health facilities in Gemas (health clinics and the Armed Forces Hospital at the Syed Sirajuddin Camp) were suggested to be referred to the Tuanku Ampuan Najihah Hospital in Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan.
However, Anwar said the suspension of the O&G specialist clinic at Segamat Hospital does not involve emergency cases.
“Any referrals for critical emergencies from your districts can still be accepted on condition that the O&G physician on duty (on-call) at Segamat Hospital has been contacted and informed beforehand for coordination measures and agreement to ensure patient safety and the smooth delivery of healthcare services,” he added.
The source who confirmed the legitimacy of the circular with Malaysiakini also stressed that the situation is still under control, as O&G specialists will now travel to meet patients when required, to ensure patient care is not compromised despite the ongoing staffing issue.
In a statement last night, the Johor health department said it is looking into the issues at Segamat Hospital’s O&G department to “ensure effective and continuous delivery of service for the people”.
“The latest status as well as further plans regarding this matter will be informed soonest,” the department said.
It also stressed that Segamat Hospital would continue operating as usual and would not be closing down.
The remark follows a social media allegation that the hospital would be shutting down.
Budget cuts to healthcare
On April 29, the Finance Ministry confirmed issuing guidelines for ministries and government agencies to reprioritise operational expenses, following reports that the government ordered a RM10 billion budget cut, from the original RM229 billion approved as operational expenses under Budget 2026.
Free Malaysia Today reported the ministry directive stating that of the RM10 billion proposed cut, RM3.06 billion could come from the Health Ministry’s RM46.5 billion budget.
The Finance Ministry cited the global supply crisis and the government’s ballooning subsidy bill as reasons. On the same day, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said the government has no plans to re-table Budget 2026.
The directive also reportedly called for an indefinite freeze on new posts and intakes of civil servants, except for critical roles in sectors like education, health, security, enforcement, and revenue collection.
The RM3.06 billion budget cut to the Health Ministry comes at a time when it is already facing an uphill battle with the shortage of doctors and specialists.
Analysts also warned that the cut in expenditure risks generating short-term savings but resulting in significantly higher costs in the future.
Can new PJ Hospital solve problems?
Amid mounting frustration over public healthcare, Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad said last month that a six-hectare site in Taman Medan, Selangor - currently a sports complex - could instead be used for a public hospital serving densely populated Petaling Jaya (PJ), Subang and Puchong.
He said that a recent technical meeting between the ministry and the Selangor government identified the complex called X Park PJ South as a potential site for the new facility.
He told Malaysiakini the land is strategically located to provide medical services to residents in the surrounding areas, especially for the B40 group.
Several days prior, Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari took to social media to respond to complaints about the lack of government hospitals in some of the state’s densest suburbs.
However, his explanation citing a lack of suitable land quickly drew brickbats from internet users and political parties.
Amirudin was responding to a post on X, which highlighted that residents in Petaling Jaya, Subang, and Puchong would have to travel far to reach a government hospital.
Instead, private hospitals appear to be “piling up” in the Klang Valley, while those seeking government hospitals would have to travel to places like Shah Alam, Sungai Buloh, Cyberjaya, and Putrajaya.
In his response on May 21, Amirudin said the state government and the Health Ministry are searching for suitable land to build a hospital in Petaling Jaya.
“There were sites previously identified, but the cost is too high to buy, and the new site in Kota Damansara is too far. We are searching for other alternative sites,” he said.
In subsequent posts, Amirudin clarified that the plan is a federal government project to serve demand around Taman Medan and PJ Old Town, while the state’s role is to facilitate the land acquisition.
The Health Ministry requires at least five acres (two hectares) of land to build the hospital.
While funds have already been set aside for the project, the ministry considered the available land to be too costly, inflating the overall cost of the project two to three times compared to building a hospital elsewhere.
Despite his explanations, many accused Amirudin of misplaced priorities, with critics citing a newly opened data centre, plans for new highways, and reports that a property developer acquired land in Petaling Jaya for a high-rise commercial development.
In a response, Amirudin reiterated that the financial decision for a hospital lies with Putrajaya, while the state government merely facilitates land matters.
‘Just shelve the plan’
On May 29, a former Health Ministry specialist panned the government’s plan for a new PJ hospital, urging the administration to first resolve the existing workforce crisis in public healthcare.
On Facebook, former Putrajaya Hospital nephrologist Dr Rafidah Abdullah said she is “sick and tired” of new initiatives which still rely on the existing stretched workforce.
She said government healthcare workers are already “hanging by a thread”.
“Even existing government hospitals do not have enough staff. Not enough anywhere. Some worse than others.
“Just shelve the plan. Bury it, forget about it altogether. The opening of hospitals or any government healthcare facilities should not become a political game or bargaining chip,” she added. - Mkini
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