KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) has urged the Health Ministry to look into the unequal distribution of doctors across states.
MMA president Dr Koh Kar Chai said the doctor-patient ratio differed in each state but the patient load was almost similar, thus causing shortages.
"The MMA suggests that the Health Ministry and Statistics Department map the trend in general and subspecialty cases in each state and plan the human resources accordingly."
Dr Koh said state Health Departments should also plan for the allocation of junior medical officers (floaters).
"The workforce must not be centred on these temporary workers, but instead planned with permanent appointments to hospitals and departments.
"The issue of medical officers quitting is serious and must also be looked into as well because we are haemorrhaging human capital, which is desperately needed," he said.
On June 30, HartalDoktorKontrak tweeted a Kuala Lumpur Hospital (KLH) internal letter signed by KLH deputy director Dr Marina Abdullah Sani calling for meeting to discuss a shortage of medical officers at KLH and Tunku Azizah Hospital following the departure of junior medical officers from July 18.
On Friday, the ministry denied that these hospitals were facing a shortage of medical officers, adding that the letter was for "internal coordination".
"This is a normal transfer procedure implemented by the ministry to execute instructions and process transfer applications from time to time."
HartalDoktorKontrak also tweeted that the meeting that was held mentioned that there was no guarantee the same number of doctors would replace those who were transferred.
A HartalDoktorKontrak spokesman said the ministry was denying these claims to avoid public backlash.
"The letter clearly states that a shortage crisis will occur but the ministry chose to dilly-dally and give excuses. Just go to the Emergency Department of any hospital and you will get a grasp of the situation.
"If there is no solution to address the issue, our healthcare system could break apart in one year," he said.