Ipoh: Retaining doctors in the public sector will be the top priority of newly elected Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) president Dr. L. Sivanaesan, as Malaysia grapples with growing healthcare demands, an ageing population, and an increasing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Dr. Sivanaesan emphasized that addressing the issue of retaining doctors must go beyond simply increasing the number of medical graduates. He highlighted the need for greater attention to career progression, working conditions, professional development, and long-term prospects within the public healthcare system.
In his inaugural speech at the MMA Annual Banquet in Ipoh, Dr. Sivanaesan stated, "We need to look at why doctors leave and what can be done to make staying in the public healthcare system a more sustainable and attractive career choice." The text of his speech was issued today, following the event.
Dr. Sivanaesan also stressed the importance of providing a clearer and more structured pathway for doctors seeking specialization and subsequently subspecialization. He noted that uncertainty over career progression could affect both workforce planning and efforts to retain experienced medical professionals.
His priorities come amid renewed concerns over the safety and welfare of healthcare workers serving remote communities, following a recent helicopter tragedy in Sarawak that claimed five lives, including four healthcare workers on a Flying Doctor Service mission. Dr. Sivanaesan remarked that the tragedy served as a stark reminder of the risks faced by healthcare workers who travel to provide essential medical services in difficult-to-reach areas.
Furthermore, Dr. Sivanaesan stated that the MMA will continue engaging stakeholders on issues affecting the private healthcare sector, particularly those involving third-party administrators and insurers. He called for greater utilization of Malaysia's more than 11,000 private general practitioners in the prevention, detection, and management of NCDs.
Highlighting the potential role of private GPs, Dr. Sivanaesan said they could complement public healthcare services by providing more convenient access to regular follow-up care for conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease. He also expressed confidence that the Ministry of Health's 'One Person, One Record' initiative, expected to launch soon, would facilitate closer integration between public and private healthcare providers through the secure sharing of validated digital medical records.
The initiative, according to Dr. Sivanaesan, could help establish public-private NCD referral pathways before the full national electronic medical records rollout expected in 2028 or 2029.