Kuala Lumpur: There was a time when becoming a doctor was seen as one of the most prestigious career paths, sparking public debate when local universities could no longer cope with the surge in applications for medical studies. Many parents were once willing to spend significant sums to send their children abroad for medical studies after failing to secure places in local universities.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, times have changed, and the field is now increasingly being overlooked. Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad recently urged straight-A Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) students to consider pursuing medicine at the university level. He also expressed concern over the declining interest in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields among students, warning that it could have long-term implications for the country’s medical sector.
The declining interest in pursuing medicine among younger generations is acknowledged by Associate Professor Dr Norsham Juliana Nordin, a p
hysiology lecturer at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM). She noted that today’s youth are more informed and career-conscious, having grown up in a vastly different environment from that of previous generations. ‘They are more critical when evaluating career choices, often prioritising work-life balance. While medicine was once regarded as the pinnacle of academic achievement, it is now seen as a long, demanding, and rigid path-especially when compared to emerging fields like technology, entrepreneurship, data science, or artificial intelligence,’ she told Bernama in a recent interview.
In addition, social media narratives highlighting the hardships, long working hours, and perceived lack of fair compensation have further discouraged many high-achieving students from pursuing a career in medicine. ‘This trend also reflects society’s growing tendency to prioritise income over impact. Today, students who aspire to become doctors are often discouraged by the perc
eived academic burden and the significant personal sacrifices involved,’ she said. She noted that ongoing issues within the national healthcare system-such as unstable contract positions, excessive workloads, and toxic work cultures including bullying or high-pressure environments with minimal support-have become red flags for young people weighing a future in medicine.
Dr Norsham Juliana also pointed out the declining appeal of medicine is partly due to how the profession is treated as ‘guilty until proven innocent’ when it comes to patient care. Quoting the famous Spider-Man phrase, ‘With great power comes great responsibility,’ she said every medical decision carries inherent risk. ‘Every action taken to save a patient, no matter how small, invites scrutiny and accountability. But I believe existing doctors remain resilient,’ she said, noting this as another reason why youth shy away from the field.
To reignite interest in the profession, Dr Norsham Juliana suggested regularly reminding both practitioner
s and medical students of the profession’s true value: the nobility of saving lives. She believes that to bring back the golden age of medicine, a more holistic approach is needed-starting with restoring joy to the learning process. ‘I believe the younger generation is not afraid of sacrifice-they just want that sacrifice to be valued and supported by a fair system. Now is the time for all stakeholders, especially experts and influential medical figures, to step forward and lead the change. Let’s restore the core strength of this profession-the healing spirit. Today, we must first ‘heal the young healers’ by restoring their mental health, motivation, and work environment. Change isn’t impossible… it begins with awareness, courage, and collaboration,’ she said.
Dr Ahmad Shahir warned that if unresolved issues persist, the national healthcare system may lose more specialists and experienced medical personnel. ‘Many doctors are leaving the public sector due to better incentives and job security elsewhere. For
instance, working in Singapore offers more attractive incentives, better work hours, and lighter workloads,’ he said, while noting that workplace bullying in hospitals is likely an isolated issue.
To cultivate interest in medicine from a young age, Dr Ahmad Shahir said it must be nurtured with the right intentions and a genuine passion for the field. He proposed introducing early education initiatives that expose students to the medical profession through hospital visits and short-term attachments, which could inspire them to consider a career in medicine. Dr Ahmad Shahir also emphasised the importance of passing the torch to future generations, particularly in light of Malaysia’s ageing population and rising life expectancy-currently 73.4 years for men and 78.0 for women.
‘As more Malaysians become senior citizens, the incidence of disease and demand for healthcare, including medical expertise, will rise. If this isn’t addressed early, we may face a serious shortage in healthcare services. My hope is that
the authorities recognise healthcare as the backbone of a nation. Medical issues like staffing and excessive workloads, which have been widely reported in the media, must be brought to Parliament and addressed through both short- and long-term strategies-for the future of our beloved Malaysia,’ he said.