Number of family doctors still low, says health DG

 

Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said there were only 924 specialists in family medicine in the country, including the 625 who were serving in the ministry’s clinics.

KUALA LUMPUR: The number of family physicians in the country is still low at only 924, at a ratio of 1:50,000 compared to the ideal ratio of one specialist per 4,000 people, said health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

He said that as of December 2021, there were only 924 specialists in family medicine, including 625 who were currently serving in the ministry’s clinics.

“Currently, the ministry is targeting at least one specialist for each of the 1,060 health clinics nationwide,” he said in a Facebook post today in conjunction with the convocation of Academy of Family Physicians of Malaysia.

Noor Hisham said family medicine specialist training was now offered at six local universities for the Masters of Family Medicine and through a parallel route under the programme offered by the academy.

“Hopefully, this fraternity will continue to grow and more medical officers will choose this specialty so that we can achieve the target of ‘One Family One Doctor’,” he said.

Earlier, he thanked the academy’s patron, the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan, Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir, for gracing the convocation, at which he was made an honorary fellow.

At the convocation, 200 graduates were awarded fellowships, specialists, diplomas and certificates. Among those honoured were the chairman of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, Dr Mark Miller, and the deputy director (primary health) of the ministry’s family health development division, Dr Mastura Ismail. - FMT