Kota Kinabalu: Doctors in some Sabah hospitals are being required to perform “every-other-day” calls as manpower shortages deepen, with the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) Sabah branch warning that patients could face longer waits and treatment delays.
Its Chairman Dr Brandon Patrick Senagang said only 47 of 138 medical officers expected from outside Sabah had reported to hospitals across the State when the association compiled its information — a reporting rate of approximately 34 per cent. They must do so by Oct 7.
His warning follows reports that Keningau, Beluran and Sipitang hospitals received no new medical officers under the latest posting exercise, while Ranau Hospital reportedly received only one of four expected doctors.
Brandon said facility-level information available to MMA Sabah, together with feedback from hospital doctors, indicated that the vast majority of hospitals affected by the latest movement of medical officers experienced a net loss rather than a net gain.
“We cannot solve a manpower shortage by continuously asking the doctors who remain to work more,” he said.
He said MMA Sabah continued to receive feedback of departments where medical officers were required to perform “every-other-day” calls because there were simply too few doctors to maintain the roster.
Every departure without adequate replacement increased the workload, frequency of calls and responsibilities carried by colleagues who remained.
“This risks creating a vicious cycle of understaffing, exhaustion, burnout and further attrition.
“Ultimately, patients will carry the consequences through longer waits, delays in treatment and reduced capacity to maintain services safely.”Brandon said MMA Sabah’s reporting figures covered hospital postings only and excluded doctors assigned to District Health Offices and government health clinics, for which it did not have comparable data.
However, feedback from doctors suggested similar difficulties might also be affecting primary healthcare facilities.
He urged the Health Ministry to publish and verify complete reporting figures across Sabah, so the true extent of the manpower situation could be assessed.
The large number of medical officers who did not take up postings should be regarded as a serious warning, particularly when permanent appointments had long been sought by contract doctors for greater career security.
“When doctors are prepared to give up a permanent appointment rather than take up a posting, we must ask what is driving that decision.”MMA Sabah supported MMA President Dr Sivanaesan Letchumanan’s call to restore the previous percentage-based Regional Incentive Payment (BIW) and review the overall incentive structure for doctors serving in East Malaysia.
It also backed stronger incentives specifically for Sabah and Sarawak, improved relocation assistance and greater certainty over the duration of postings.
Better staff accommodation and basic infrastructure, together with meaningful career and postgraduate opportunities for doctors serving under-served areas, were also needed.
Brandon urged the Federal Government to give the reforms serious consideration ahead of Budget 2027.
However, he said addressing Sabah’s doctor shortage could not be the Federal Government’s responsibility alone.
While recruitment, appointments and deployment remained primarily under the Health Ministry, the Sabah Government could help make the State more attractive for doctors to serve and remain.
MMA Sabah proposed five areas for State action: staff accommodation, supplementary incentives, infrastructure around rural health facilities, development of Sabah’s own medical workforce and stronger Federal-State coordination.
Brandon said safe and adequate accommodation remained a major concern, particularly in rural districts.
Some doctors struggled to find housing near their facilities and faced long daily journeys, while some existing government quarters were old or unsuitable.
He urged the State to work with the Ministry and relevant agencies to identify facilities with inadequate staff housing, accelerate repairs and refurbishment and expand accommodation where suitable rental housing was unavailable.
“Housing for healthcare workers should be regarded as essential healthcare infrastructure — not an optional welfare benefit.
“The State should also explore accommodation support, transport assistance and targeted incentives for healthcare workers serving difficult-to-fill locations.
“The purpose should be simple: make it worthwhile for doctors to choose Sabah — and worthwhile for them to remain here.
“Reliable water and electricity, road access, internet connectivity and safe transportation are equally important to recruitment and retention,” he said.
Brandon said improving these conditions would benefit healthcare workers and the rural communities they served.
For the longer term, he called for stronger scholarships and financial assistance for Sabahans pursuing medicine and specialist training, alongside appropriate measures to encourage them to return and serve the State.
Doctors choosing to build careers in Sabah should also have clear opportunities for postgraduate training and professional development.
He proposed a structured platform involving the State Government, Health Ministry, Sabah Health Department and relevant stakeholders to regularly review shortages and identify facilities at greatest risk.
“We should not wait until a hospital is critically understaffed before acting.”Public-private collaboration could also be explored to support services facing severe manpower constraints.
Brandon said permanent appointments alone were insufficient. Sabah needed doctors physically on the ground, adequately supported, working under safe and reasonable conditions, and given opportunities to progress and reasons to stay.
“A permanent position that no doctor accepts does not treat a patient. A staffing establishment that exists only on paper does not run a hospital.”He urged the Federal and State Governments to act together before healthcare services failed.
“Sabah’s doctor shortage is reaching breaking point. Action must come before the breaking point becomes a breakdown.”
