World · Malaysia Bureau
Malaysia must enhance working conditions to retain medical professionals
Permanent employment contracts alone are insufficient to address the country's doctor retention crisis, according to policy researchers. Comprehensive workplace improvements are needed to keep healthcare professionals in the system.
LSN Malaysia ·
Policymakers have been urged to look beyond permanent appointments when seeking to retain doctors in Malaysia's healthcare sector, with research suggesting a more holistic approach to employment conditions is necessary.
A senior analyst at Khazanah Research Institute has cautioned that offering permanent positions, while important, does not represent a complete solution to the challenge of retaining qualified medical professionals. The institute's findings suggest that broader improvements to the working environment are critical to addressing staffing challenges within the healthcare system.
The push for enhanced conditions comes as Malaysia continues to grapple with workforce shortages in its medical sector. Doctors have increasingly cited factors including workload, career progression opportunities, and workplace support systems as influential in their decisions regarding continued employment.
Experts argue that a comprehensive strategy addressing multiple dimensions of employment—from remuneration and benefits to mentoring programs and work-life balance initiatives—would prove more effective in stemming the outflow of experienced medical personnel. Such measures are seen as essential to strengthening Malaysia's healthcare delivery capacity amid growing demand for services.