Ministry moves to stem exodus of doctors to Singapore

Singapore's training programme was a continuous process and doctors sub-specialise at a faster rate.

KUALA LUMPUR: The Ministry of Health will take steps to expedite specialist training for local doctors to help overcome their exodus to Singapore, assured Deputy Director-General (Medical) Dr S. Jeyaindran in commenting on a growing predicament, according to Asiaone.com. “Shortening the gap and looking for alternative pathways are some ways.”

“Medical officers are stuck at their level with 3,500 of them applying every year for the 1,000 places available for specialist training.”

The universities are also increasing the slots available for master’s programmes, he added. “At present, the number of slots available are limited. Many doctors have to wait for 15 years to do their master’s to become specialists.”

In contrast, conceded Jeyaindran, Singapore’s training programme was a continuous process and doctors sub-specialise at a faster rate. That’s the reason for Malaysian doctors to look to Singapore after graduating.

One media report said that Malaysians are being offered specialist training places in Singapore even before they graduated.

In the latest move, Singapore reportedly offered nearly 20 places for specialist training to Universiti Malaya and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia medical students. Those who accepted the offers apparently also wanted to avoid the six to eight month wait for housemanship, considered too long.

Hence, he reiterated, the universities must also look at alternative pathways especially through fellowship or membership of the Royal Colleges in the United Kingdom. “Urology has started producing specialists this way and others would offer similar alternative pathways in the near future.”

Already, said Jeyaindran, the Royal College of Surgeons has agreed to recognise senior local consultants as trainers in a jointly developed programme. “The programme was being finalised.”

Internal medicine training, continued the doctor, may also be fine-tuned to provide for well-rounded exposure. The training has been ongoing for many years. The Ministry is looking at the programme again.

Singapore, he noted, had a three to four year residency programme for internal medicine. “They also have another sub-speciality programme before they become specialists.”

A house officer or medical officer, according to a Singapore Health Ministry spokesman, can apply for the residency programme.