PM orders HR Ministry to speed up TalentCorp processing for returning doctors

KUALA LUMPUR — The Human Resources Ministry has been tasked with examining the efficiency of TalentCorp's application procedures, which processes returnee programmes for Malaysian doctors working abroad. The move comes as part of the government's broader initiative to attract skilled Malaysian professionals back to the country amid concerns over brain drain in the healthcare sector.

The review aims to identify bottlenecks in the current system and streamline workflows to reduce processing times, making the return process more attractive to medical practitioners considering relocation from overseas. TalentCorp, the government's talent attraction and retention initiative, plays a key role in coordinating such repatriation efforts.

The directive reflects growing recognition of the importance of retaining and repatriating Malaysian medical talent to strengthen the domestic healthcare workforce. The healthcare sector has faced persistent challenges in recruitment and retention, particularly in specialised fields, making the return of experienced practitioners a strategic priority.

Details regarding the scope and timeline of the ministry's review are expected to be announced in the coming weeks as the government works to enhance the competitiveness of its returnee programmes against opportunities available to Malaysian professionals in other countries.