Kota Kinabalu: Sabah’s doctor shortage is reaching a breaking point, forcing medical officers in some departments to work on-call every other day, warned Sabah Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) chairman Dr Brandon Patrick Senagang (pic).
According to data compiled by Sabah MMA, only 47 of the 138 medical officers posted from outside the state have reported for duty—roughly 34 per cent. Dr Brandon urged the Health Ministry to verify and release complete state-level reporting figures.
He warned that mounting workloads risk triggering widespread burnout and further resignations, threatening patient safety through longer wait times and delayed treatment.
To stem the outflow, he called on federal and state authorities to enhance incentives, restore the percentage-based Regional Incentive Payment (BIW), upgrade staff quarters and rural infrastructure, and establish clearer career progression paths.
