Sarawak is ready to recruit overseas-trained Malaysian doctors and international medical graduates to address its healthcare manpower shortage.
Deputy Minister for Public Health, Housing and Local Government Michael Tiang said Sarawak has proposed to the Malaysian Medical Council (MMC) to allow the state to recruit and place these doctors for service or housemanship.
“Malaysian doctors trained overseas or through private pathways are keen to return and serve, but are hindered by requirements such as passing Bahasa Malaysia and History at SPM level to enter public service.
“There are thousands of international medical graduates from local institutions are also not allowed to undergo housemanship in Malaysia under current MMC regulations.
“In view of this, Sarawak is ready to take them in and is proposing for authority to be delegated to us to recruit these talents to serve in Sarawak,” he said in the august House.
He said this in response to a question from Bawang Assan assemblyman Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh on plans to improve healthcare accessibility amid a shortage of medical specialists.
Tiang added that Sarawak’s doctor-to-population ratio currently stands at 1:590, compared to the national ratio of 1:406.
He said the state is still facing 5,738 vacancies in existing approved posts, and requires an additional 18,814 positions to meet overall demand.
