Kota Kinabalu: The Sabah government should not rely solely on Putrajaya to resolve the state's doctor shortage, which is nearing critical levels, said Parti Warisan health bureau chief Dr Istefan Koh.
His call follows a Sabah Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) report revealing that only 47 of the 138 out-of-state medical officers scheduled for placement in Sabah had reported for duty at the time data was gathered, forcing some departments into alternate-day on-call rosters.
Istefan warned that the shortfall directly impacts patient care through longer wait times, heavier workloads, and staff burnout.
He urged the state government to introduce its own retention mechanisms, such as state-funded incentives, relocation allowances, housing and transport support, rural hardship allowances, and bonded medical scholarships.
He also proposed establishing a dedicated Sabah healthcare workforce body alongside the Health Ministry to track reporting rates and vacancies across state hospitals, including Tawau Hospital, to formulate proactive, long-term workforce solutions.
