Govt docs paid well but can't stop brain drain - deputy minister

PARLIAMENT | Deputy Health Minister Lukanisman Awang Sauni today addressed the issue of salaries being a reason medical officers and specialist doctors left public service to migrate overseas.

While he acknowledged there are better salaries and incentives for doctors overseas, he said the starting salaries of doctors in Malaysia are relatively better than other public sector jobs.

“Medical officers in the Health Ministry are given a starting salary of RM5197 (monthly) with an annual raise of RM225.

“This starting salary is a lot higher than other service schemes in the Management and Professional Group in the public sector,” he told the Dewan Rakyat today.

Lukanisman (above) added that medical officers are given overtime pay when they are on call, time-based promotions, and paid study leave.

Even so, he said the Health Ministry will continue to improve incentives for doctors from time to time, adding that the ministry has no authority to prevent doctors from leaving the country.

The retention of doctors in the public health sector is a longstanding issue.

In a recent poll among government healthcare workers in Malaysia conducted by online health publication CodeBlue, contract and permanent staff expressed dissatisfaction and anger at the public health system.

It was reported that 95 percent of 1,652 respondents felt the system was in “crisis” while 73 percent were considering quitting altogether.

The survey also revealed that 52 percent of respondents said they would participate in a strike if one was organised.

Rumours of a strike by doctors in the public sector emerged last week which led to Health Minister Zaliha Mustafa organising a town hall session with pressure group Hartal Doktor Kontrak.

The town hall is scheduled to be held tomorrow at the ministry’s headquarters in Putrajaya.

Lukanisman said the town hall will also discuss the issue of married couples in the medical profession who are posted to different states. - Mkini