World · Malaysia Bureau
Sabah lawmaker urges 2027 budget to address critical doctor shortage
A Sabah state assemblyman has called on the government to restore permanent appointments and improve salary competitiveness to retain local doctors and medical specialists. The appeal comes as healthcare systems across the region struggle with staff retention challenges.
LSN Malaysia ·
Masiung Banah has urged policymakers to prioritize physician retention in the upcoming 2027 budget, warning that current conditions are driving qualified medical professionals away from the state. The assemblyman emphasized that permanent positions and enhanced compensation packages are essential to stemming the exodus of local talent in Sabah's healthcare sector.
According to Banah, the restoration of permanent employment contracts would provide doctors and specialists with greater job security and career stability. He argued that such measures are fundamental to attracting and keeping skilled medical personnel, particularly in addressing rural healthcare gaps where staffing remains chronically inadequate.
The lawmaker also highlighted the need for more competitive salary structures to match or exceed those offered in other states and private healthcare facilities. Without such improvements, Banah warned, Sabah risks losing experienced doctors to other regions, further straining the state's already stretched medical services.
The appeal reflects broader concerns across Malaysian healthcare systems about physician recruitment and retention. Medical professionals have increasingly cited job security, compensation, and working conditions as key factors influencing career decisions, with many opting for private practice or positions in other states where terms are more favorable.