Health unions in Malaysia have proposed that state governments offer a RM10,000 incentive to attract doctors from Peninsular Malaysia and other states to fill ongoing shortages in Sabah and Sarawak.
The proposal, outlined by Ajulahin Japin, president of the Council of Unions’ Presidents and Secretary-General under the Ministry of Health Malaysia (Mapsu), includes a RM5,000 payment upon reporting for duty to cover relocation and initial settlement expenses, followed by another RM5,000 after completing three years of service.
Ajulahin stated that the incentive could make postings in the two states more attractive while ensuring continuity of healthcare services, particularly in rural and remote communities reliant on government facilities.
“Many doctors consider relocation costs, welfare concerns and posting-related challenges when deciding whether to accept placements in Sabah and Sarawak,” he said in a statement on Wednesday (Oct 14).
The Sabah Medical Services Union president noted that the doctor shortage in Sabah is not solely due to a lack of medical graduates but also linked to doctors’ willingness to serve in the region.
According to the proposal, the incentive scheme should be treated as an interim measure, subject to review and eventual discontinuation once the two states produce enough local medical graduates to meet healthcare workforce needs.
He also urged the Public Service Department (JPA) to review pension policies and the Regional Incentive Allowance (BIW). Ajulahin emphasized that remuneration and long-term welfare remain key factors influencing doctors’ decisions to serve in the two states.
He stated that financial incentives alone would not solve the problem, calling for state health authorities to ensure adequate housing, transportation, and other basic support facilities for doctors relocated from outside the states.
The union body emphasized that addressing this shortage requires a strategic approach including financial incentives, welfare support, placement facilities, and service condition improvements to ensure equitable access to quality healthcare regardless of location.
Mapsu expressed hope that the Sabah and Sarawak State governments, the Health Ministry, and the JPA will seriously consider the proposal to find practical, immediate solutions for healthcare workers and residents.
“Failure to resolve the long-standing doctor shortage has resulted in patients waiting for hours at outpatient departments in healthcare facilities,” Ajulahin said.
The union cited the Ranau Hospital in Sabah as an example, where a single doctor handles nearly 200 patients daily, while the 24-hour emergency department has only two doctors managing 80 to 100 patients.
He described such workloads as extremely demanding, even with assistant medical officers, and noted that patient well-being in the two states is significantly affected.
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