Importing foreign specialists a bad idea, say experts

 

Estimates suggest that some 28,000 specialist doctors would be needed by 2030. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: Health experts have dismissed the possibility of following Indonesia’s lead by allowing foreign doctors into practice to overcome the shortage of medical specialists here.

Former health minister Dr S Subramaniam said opening Malaysia’s doors fully to foreign specialists could lead to intense competition among medical practitioners.

“It might create a lot of unnecessary competition and, at that particular point in time, I would be quite worried about (our medical) standards and whether we can retain them,” he told FMT.

Malaysian Medical Association president Dr R Muruga Raj said importing foreign specialists should be considered only if there is a genuine need, especially given that between 3,000 and 5,000 medical graduates enter the profession annually.

Dr S Subramaniam.

“If there is a particular expertise that is unavailable in Malaysia, then perhaps it could be something to consider but, at the moment, we don’t see a need for the importing of doctors.”

In September 2022, it was reported that there were fewer than 13,000 medical specialists in both the public and private healthcare sectors, with estimates showing that 28,000 specialists would be needed by 2030.

Last Tuesday, Indonesia’s parliament passed a health bill allowing foreign medical specialists to practice and be based in that country, according to Singapore’s Straits Times.

Subramaniam, however, said foreign recruitment could be considered for certain areas where Malaysia lacks expertise, such as heart and liver transplants.

“These (are the) kinds of expertise we still do not have and there have been instances, for example, (where) a liver transplant specialist from Singapore has come and practised in Malaysia,” he said.

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Subramaniam said there are policies which allow foreign medical specialists to practice in Malaysia, although this is on a case-by-case basis.

Meanwhile, Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy CEO Azrul Khalib said Malaysia would benefit from recruiting foreign specialists as it will address manpower shortages in key areas, such as mental health.

In 2018, the country had only 410 registered psychiatrists in both the public and private sectors, meaning the average national psychiatrist-to-population ratio stood at 1.27 to 100,000.

“There is (also) a lot of potential to gain from knowledge transfer from experienced foreign healthcare professionals working in Malaysia’s healthcare system,” Azrul said, adding that they could help train less experienced medical officers or specialists.

However, he cautioned that public reluctance and pushback towards foreign recruitment might hinder the success of such a move in Malaysia. - FMT