PETALING JAYA: Doctors who have worked abroad may no longer have to do the three-year compulsory service in government hospitals.

Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai said the requirement was under review.

Provided they comply with certain conditions, the ministry may allow them to practice in private hospitals or academic institutions.

"Specialists, especially, may not necessarily have to serve the whole term in a government hospital. We have to see where they serve and how they can lend their expertise where needed," he said.

The ministry wanted to make it more attractive for Malaysian doctors abroad to return home, he said, and many changes had been made to the system to make it more appealing to do so.
There is now a one-stop centre at the ministry to help doctors who have returned to process their documents. A multi-entry salary scheme has also been introduced.

"Under the previous fixed salary scheme, senior doctors overseas were reluctant to return to Malaysia.

"Now, they can enter at any level, depending on the number of years they have worked overseas," he said after launching the Anything Butterfly Photography Exhibition at the 1Utama shopping complex here.