A doctor says the facility needs 45 to 50 medical officers, but it has only half as many to serve patients’ needs.
A doctor at the centre, who asked not to be named, said it needed 45 to 50 MOs to cope with its workload, but only about half that number were currently available to treat patients.
The shortage has become more acute over the past two to three years as some had left but not enough new MOs had been recruited to replace them, the doctor said.
The situation worsens when MOs take medical or study leave or when some of them are given permanent appointments and transferred to other facilities to fill vacancies.
“On paper, it may appear that we have enough staff, but the number of MOs actually available to see patients is much lower,” the doctor told FMT.
More than 3,000 new cases a year
The centre takes in more than 3,300 new cancer cases a year. Apart from that, about 33,000 patients come in for follow-up treatment.
On some days, 150 to 160 patients attend its oncology clinic, while its day-care unit handles 90 to 100 chemotherapy patients.
“Sometimes, there are only eight doctors at the clinic and four at the day-care unit to see all these patients.
“These numbers do not include patients undergoing radiotherapy or those in the wards, who number up to hundreds every day,” the doctor said.
The doctor said the heavy workload raised concerns about fatigue and the risk of errors, particularly when administering chemotherapy and monitoring patients.
Staff shortages have also resulted in longer work hours, with treatment sometimes continuing until 7pm or 8pm.
The department receives complaints almost every week about patients waiting more than four hours, the doctor said.
Waiting times for new patients referred from other hospitals to see a specialist have also lengthened considerably.
Previously, the centre aimed to see referred patients within two weeks, but the target was becoming more difficult to meet.
“We have seen patients waiting three or four weeks. After that, they may have to wait for radiotherapy or chemotherapy.
“One delay can push back the next step, meaning treatment cannot start within the appropriate timeframe,” the doctor said.
The doctor said prolonged delays could result in patients’ conditions becoming more complicated and increasing costs if more complex treatment or interventions are needed eventually.
“There are more and more patients, so our workload has increased,” the doctor said.
The doctor also warned that continued staff shortages could eventually force the centre to reduce the number of appointments offered to patients.
Doctors have limits too
The higher workload and longer hours are also taking a toll on MOs, with some struggling to cope and a few seeking psychiatric help because of emotional stress, the doctor said.
“We also need to look after the welfare of MOs. They are human too, and they have their limits.
“We cannot keep forcing them to see more patients without taking their well-being into account,” the doctor said.
The doctor said similar manpower shortages were being felt at other government hospitals and facilities.
The issue was being raised not to blame the health ministry, but to highlight the challenges faced by healthcare workers, said the doctor.
“Treatment is improving and patients are living longer. That is a positive development, but it also means more patients require ongoing treatment and monitoring.
“Patient numbers are increasing, but the workforce is not growing at the same rate. That is the main challenge we face now,” the doctor said.
The doctor called for more MOs to be hired and existing officers, including those on contract, to be retained.
The concerns come as Malaysia’s cancer burden continues to grow, with 40,198 new cases recorded in 2024 — about 110 diagnoses a day.
Women accounted for 21,958 cases, compared with 18,240 men. Breast, colorectal, prostate, lung and uterine cancers were among the most common, according to the Malaysia National Cancer Registry.
FMT has contacted health minister Dzulkefly Ahmad for comment and is awaiting his response. - FMT
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