Today, Berita Harian made a front page report that KKM has made it compulsory for all specialist, especially the newly qualified, to serve in rural areas for atleast 6 months. The following circular below was issued on 5/01/2012.
It also says that all Housemen who completes housemanship in Klang Valley will be transferred out (page 16) and any transfer back will only be entertained after 3 years of service except in certain special situation (page 20). For those who are being transferred to East Malaysia, you may request to transfer back in 2 years. Of course, if you are accepted into Master’s programme, you will be transferred to the training centre.
In July 2006, I wrote an article in MMA Magazine ” Future of Government Doctors: Die Another Day? “ https://pagalavan.com/my-mma-articles/july-2006future-of-government-doctors-die-another-day/. This was my last sentence: “There will come a time that we would be told that “if you don’t like the system, you may leave”. Since the “World Is Not Enough” we would be asked to go all over the country for promotions since the posts available are going to be limited. We can “Never Say Never Again”. The administrators are NOT going to be “The Spy Who Loved Us” but rather they would become “Goldfingers” and “Thunderballs”. In near future (not long, just another 5-7 years!), we are going to become “Dr. No”– body and since “You Only Live Once” and not twice, we will “Die Another Day”……………or we may just end up playing “Casino Royale”…………..” How true has it become!
Since Housemanship is being given on contract basis, it makes it much easier for MOH/SPA to force people to go to rural areas. If you don’t want to go, you may become jobless. Only if you accept the offer, the contract may be renewed or you may be accepted into permanent civil service
As for specialist, you may be transferred out to rural hospitals after your gazettement for a 6 months posting. In “circular” language, 6 months means 1 year as the paper work to transfer back will take a few months. They may make this compulsory in order for you to be accepted into subspeciality training programme. Overall, you may need to wait 1 year after gazettement for subspeciality training, depending on the waiting list. From 2011, all specialist who were accepted into subspeciality training will be bonded for atleast 3 years, not including the 5-7 years bond for your Master’s programme.
I feel that all doctors should serve in rural areas during their life as a doctor. You will learn alot especiallly about social circumstances and working with limited facilities. However, I feel that a doctor who had already served the rural area as a MO etc, should not be forced to do it again.
As I keep saying, life is not going to be easy for future doctors………….
circular : PANDUAN PENEMPATAN DAN PERTUKARAN PEGAWAI
Wajib ke luar bandar
2012/02/08
Doktor pakar dikehendaki bertugas 6 bulan di pedalaman
KUALA LUMPUR: Doktor pakar yang menjalani latihan di kawasan bandar kini diwajibkan berkhidmat di luar bandar dan pedalaman termasuk Sabah dan Sarawak selama enam bulan sebelum diberi pilihan untuk bertukar berkhidmat ke kawasan lain.
Ketua Pengarah Kesihatan, Datuk Seri Dr Hasan Abdul Rahman, berkata arahan itu terkandung dalam Panduan Penempatan Doktor Pakar bagi Tempoh Enam Bulan di Hospital Luar Bandar yang dikeluarkan Disember lalu bagi mengimbangi penempatan doktor di luar bandar dan pedalaman.
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