KUALA LUMPUR: The are 8,522 specialists currently serving the Health Ministry in 29 specialty areas.
In a parliamentary written reply published on parliament's website yesterday, the Health Ministry said it is constantly improving to expand specialist services at the government health facilities to Malaysians.
Among the initiatives include an increase in Federal Training Prize (HLP) sponsorship from 1,500 slots annually to 1,650 study slots for the 2024/2025 session to encourage more medical officers to continue their studies and an increase in medical specialty training opportunities so that more specialist doctors are produced through the Parallel Pathway Specialist Training Programme, which offers 600 sponsored slots.
"Other initiatives include the re-appointment by contract of medical specialists who have retired to serve with the ministry, especially in areas with a high need for specialist services and specialist service from the private sector to serve on a sessional basis and to encourage Malaysian specialists who are serving abroad to return to the country," the ministry said in reply to Datuk Awang Hashim (PN-Pendang).
Awang asked about the number of specialist doctors currently serving in the government sector and the steps taken to ensure an adequate number of specialists in all fields.