KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia requires more medical specialists to meet the growing demand for healthcare services in the national healthcare system.
Former deputy health minister Datuk Dr Lee Boon Chye said that the country should aim for at least 30 per cent of all doctors in the public healthcare system to be specialists by 2030.
"There is a shortage of specialist doctors in the Health Ministry's facilities. Despite 70 per cent of doctors working within the Health Ministry, less than 15 per cent are specialists.
"We should strive to have at least 30 per cent of all doctors in the Health Ministry's facilities as specialists by 2030," he said today.
Dr Lee also said that the maldistribution of doctors is another issue that needs to be addressed.
"The Klang Valley has the highest concentration of doctors. In rural areas, especially in the interior of Sabah and Sarawak, the doctor-to-population ratio is significantly lower."
Meanwhile, commenting on the 1:400 doctor-to-population ratio target, Dr Lee said the target is reachable.
"Based on the Health Ministry's data in 2022, we had 79,443 doctors registered with the Malaysian Medical Council (MMC), which gave a ratio of 1:412.
"Every year, there are about 2,000 to 4,000 medical graduates (similar number of house officers completing training). Hence, achieving the ratio 1:400(or 25 doctors per 10,000 population) by 2025 is certainly within reach, even taking account of 1.1 per cent annual population growth," he said.
Asked on the ideal doctor to population ratio, Dr Lee said, "There is no ideal doctor to population ratio. As the economic status of the nation improves, and the population gets older, more doctors will be needed to meet the demand for quality healthcare.
"Hence for an upper middle-income nation like Malaysia, the 1:400 ratio is appropriate. When the nation moves towards high income status, more doctors will be needed."
On Monday, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad told Dewan Rakyat that the ministry is committed to achieving a 1:400 doctor-to-population ratio in the country by next year.
He said the doctor-to-population ratio stood at 1:412 in 2022 compared to 1:758 in 2012.
He said the ratio of 1:400 would include doctors under the ministry, the Higher Education Ministry, the private sector and others.
In comparison, the ratio in Singapore stood at 1:270, the United Kingdom at 1:357, Australia at 1:270, Austria at 1:192, Thailand at 1:1,111 and Indonesia at 1:1,400.