Kuala Lumpur: Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii Lee Wuen has put forward five proposals to the Federal Government to address the shortage of doctors in Sabah and Sarawak, including reforms to incentives, career pathways, and temporary recruitment of medical personnel.
Speaking during the debate on healthcare services in the Dewan Rakyat today, Dr Kelvin said the rising rate of medical officers failing to report for permanent postings showed that the issue required a more comprehensive solution.
He said the rate had increased from two per cent in 2022 to 20% in 2023, around 40% in 2025, and 66% for hospital placements in Sabah this month, while citing a Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) report which placed the rate in Sabah and Sarawak at between 70% and 76%.
He said several hospitals had also received far fewer doctors than required.
“Hospital Beluran, for example, received zero new doctors on September 28 and now has only six doctors, while Hospital Kanowit has three doctors, Kudat received four out of 17, and Sri Aman received six out of 20,” he said.
To address the situation, Dr Kelvin proposed restoring progressive Regional Incentive Payments (BIW) for healthcare workers in Sabah and Sarawak, while providing relocation assistance earlier based on actual costs.
“Second, announce a commitment to establish a Health Services Commission with the authority to determine specific remuneration without being fully tied to the public service scheme.
“Third, doctors appointed on a permanent basis should be given an immediate career progression pathway, while service in Sabah and Sarawak should be made an advantage when applying for specialist training,” he said.
He also proposed setting a service period of between 12 and 24 months, supported by appropriate incentive packages and clear career benefits.
For his fourth proposal, Dr Kelvin said state governments should provide bonuses and state incentives to healthcare workers serving in their respective states, while the Federal Government must ensure the return of appropriate revenues to Sabah and Sarawak in accordance with the Federal Constitution and the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
As a short-term measure, Dr Kelvin also proposed recruiting foreign doctors, particularly international graduates trained at Malaysian medical universities, subject to appropriate patient safety safeguards.
He stressed that the measure should only serve as a temporary bridge and must not replace efforts to improve the salaries, welfare, and career prospects of local doctors.
