4,898 specialist currently serving with MOH: Dr Hilmi

KUALA LUMPUR: There are currently 4,898 specialist doctors currently serving in the health facility of the Ministry of Health (MOH) as of Sept 30 this year, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.
Deputy Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya (pix) said the ministry was always striving to increase the number of medical officers in the country.
"Among the measures taken by the ministry is to increase the intake of medical officers undergoing specialist undergraduate programmes. The ministry also encourages medical officers who are interested to become specialists to undergo specialist training through parallel route programmes with foreign universities," he said.
He was replying to a question from Dr Izani Husin (PAS-Pengkalan Chepa), who wished to know the current number of specialist doctors at government hospitals and the steps being taken to address the shortage of such posts.
Dr Hilmi said, among other measures taken by MOH, was by reappointing retired medical officers on a contract basis to serve with the ministry based on the requirements.
He added the government also obtained the services of specialists from the private sector to serve on a session basis besides encouraging Malaysian specialist medical officers serving overseas to return home and serve in the country. — Bernama