It has been more than a month since I last wrote an article which caused a storm among the medical fraternity. My article prompted Codeblue to publish what I had written, in their portal, which was subsequently brought to the attention of the Minister. During the initial press conference , MOH officials claimed that the salary difference between U41 and U44/43 contract officers are merely RM100-200 which is definitely not correct. The total difference when allowances are included will be in the range of RM 1000. Subsequently MMA made several press statements and had several meetings with MOH and MOF. After much discussion, MOH/Cabinet sort of agreed that they will “discuss” with JPA to renew the contract under U43/44 for those who have completed housemanship and did not receive permanent position. Unfortunately, to my knowledge, till today no such change has been made. Probably they are still discussing.
Subsequently, the cabinet has agreed for approval of new posts for MOH which has been frozen since 2014. The new posts will be for the newer facilities that are in the pipeline for MOH. On 2/12/2019, JPA issued a circular that about 10 675 new posts will be created for MOH within the next couple of years. Before everyone get excited, please be informed that these posts include all category of staffs. I was informed that only about 1000 post are for doctors. With 5-6000 doctors graduating annually, it is once again very obvious that most of the graduates will not be receiving a permanent post in KKM. The Minister once again has reiterated this in the Parliament few weeks ago that MOH will not be able to provide jobs to all graduates. It is a fact and it is also the fact in many other countries.
Then, out of no where, the cabinet suddenly decided that doctor’s consultation fees (not procedure fee) will be deregulated. This caught everyone by surprise as the GPs have been fighting to increase their regulated fee for years. I have written about this few months ago. Just before the decision, MMA was informed that the government did not agree to increase the fee. However, I feel this is just the tip of the iceberg that we are seeing. I feel something big is coming along the way. With doctors flooding the market by 2020, the government got nothing to loose. Doctors will be undercutting and fighting among themselves to survive. If doctors are not united (which has never been) the biggest beneficiary would be TPAs/Insurance companies. Now, these fellows will go around doctor shopping for the best rate in town. It is called market force. Let the market force decide! With the deregulation, all clinics must display their consultation charges clearly in their clinic for patients to decide whether they want to see the doctor or not. It will become an offence if you don’t do so. I smell something is coming………… the Sith lords are never without a bigger plan………
Over the last 10-15 years, many of my predictions have come true. Mushrooming of medical schools producing thousands of medical graduates with questionable quality flooding the market and eventual unemployment in civil sector was predicted by me almost 15 years ago. It is all based on simple mathematical calculation. I am not Nostradamus! Limited postgraduate pathways due to this has been mentioned many times by me. I also spoke about the increasing waiting time for internship and internship under contract in 2014 when the actual implementation came about in 2016. Almost everything eventually happened, just the timing varied. In my MMA article 2011 & 2012 and my blog posts as well as in my books (2016), I had said that there will come a time when the Critical allowance for doctors will be removed! Critical allowance is given when you have more post than body. It is reviewed every 5 years. It use to be 5% of your basic salary till 2001 when it was increased to RM 500 by the Finance Minister who was also the PM at that time , who is also our current PM! He is also responsible in introducing this allowance when SSB was announced in 1992. Subsequently, these amount was increased to RM 750 in 2007 when the last review was undertaken.
On 20/12/2019, once again my prediction has come true. JPA issued a circular dated 20/12/2019 stating that the Critical allowance will be removed for all new appointments effective 1/01/2020. WAWASAN 2020 has been achieved! We have enough doctors to serve, we have enough civil servants, no category is considered critical anymore as we have more bodies than post. Unfortunately, we are not a developed nation yet! Interestingly, the PM who initiated Wawasan 2020 lived long enough to see himself becoming the PM again in 2020, not achieving what he envisioned. What is rather amusing is the fact that those who are already in service will continue to receive the RM750 critical allowance till they retire or resign. So, the newcomers will be doing the same amount of work but receiving a lower pay. But then, “you tak suka, you boleh keluar bukak klinik lor…………” it is called market force……….. supply and demand, more supply than demand, employer calls the shot! You have to thank your lucky stars to be even given a job!
“Hit me with all your anger, use your lightsaber and I shall become stronger and the most powerful resurrected Sith of all time………”
Welcome to the Rise of Palpatine …………………. where the dark lord rules………………once and for all…………..
Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year 2020…………………..
Pagalavan's Avatar 
Some good dedicated doctors will not get a permanent job in government service. Non performing doctors who are already confirmed in their service will still get their critical allowance and stay on with plenty of job security. How nice. Or is there any mechanism in place to get rid of them which i haven’t heard of?
Once confirmed in service, it is almost impossible to remove them.
hi dr paga.may i know which job opportunities are more difficult to get between pharmacy and doctor nowadays
Both are difficult. However, pharmacist can still work in many other fields.
Correctly said. No guarantee of Government jobs for anyone.For any race. But how to change the mindset?
How to go and tell a Form 5 student not to take up medicine if he or she had been indoctrinated from childhood to become a doctor one day? Do you think the parent will allow you to advise the student? I have mentioned many times here before. As long as Private Universities are conducting medical programs , nothing will change. Every counsellor will tell the prospective science student medical course is the Eldorado. There is an excellent commission to recruit prospective medical students.
Everyone alive in this world wants to go to heaven when they go upstairs. Why? That is the indoctrination we have been fed from childhood. They have been told hell is for bad people. Some religious people tell stories as if they have gone there and come back.
Medical courses have become like this. No one will listen to you. Will you listen to me if I tell you only those expensive cars ( above RM150,000) have little bit of quality,? I talked to my Chinese dent corrector, he showed me how most car companies cut cost by not having the engine protected well. Better still, many car companies give free skirting knowing very well they cannot take any knock of more than 5 ( repeat five) km an hour. Which means you have to buy a complete new skirting if damaged – after all it is just plastic. But who will listen? They will give various reasons. Same thing with the medical students joining now.
Only when they graduate, the reality will come in. That time will be too late , too little.
If a Minister is hopeless and citizens are making noise, yet the Minister continues to remain in his position. How is this possible? The only one who can remove him is the PM. If the Minister can keep the PM happy, who bothers what the rakyat says. Same thing here. Patients can complain. Other doctors can voice out. But if the not so good doctor can take care of his superior, all is possible. Politics is the key word here.
https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/504821
as what you have said long long time ago..
Hi Dr, I’ve been waiting for your blogpost regarding this matter. I have two sisters who are currently contract doctors under KKM and we have expected this thing to happen, sooner or later. It’s just more disappointing to see that this decision is approved by THE Prime Minister itself who is a doctor. The way I see this, Malaysia will face more brain drain in future and can only be proud of the best healthcare system in the world title but not on how they treat their fellow healthcare workers……
It is the same anywhere in the world. In 2016, UK had a pay cut for all junior doctors and many left to other countries. At least they can do that as most UK degrees are recognised in other developed countries. But the government will always find other ways to solve this problems: recruit foreign doctors who are willing to work at that salary!In Australia/NZ and also in many other countries, all doctors work under contract. In Aussie, some have to renew their contract almost every year! If you are not in the training program, you will end up, sometimes working in different hospital every year!Even consultant’s are not guaranteed of a job. I know many in Australia who are surviving by just doing locum, as they are unable to get a job in the city they are staying. So, it is a global phenomenon where market force plays the game. Medicine is not a guaranteed life anymore as what many would like to think.
Don’t be dissapointed. Your parents and your family voted for this and the removal of GST. padan muka.
frankly, this has nothing to do with the current government per se. The freezing of civil servants was in 2014 when the previous government was in power. They know very well that it is not sustainable but no political will to say so. Thus, they introduced GST to pay the civil servants. But that is a short term solution and not sustainable either. But I do agree that they should not have scrapped GST!
It is good for our Dr to keep emphasising that it is not all rosy in other countries.Many young doctors I meet keep saying they want to migrate to UK and Australia. I dare not tell them lest they get offended since they believe they know better. Frankly I have limited information about the situation in those countries but your clear picturisation should remove the high hopes of doctors being welcomed with a red carpet there.
Many years back, many foreign doctors came rushing to Malaysia. The gold rush they termed.Eventually all stopped as more local medical graduates were produced. Now it is being repeated in UK and Australia. I suppose this is what they term as life is a cycle.
Many of these young doctors with unrecognised degrees got no idea what is happening out there. The amount of money/exams they have to spend and do to even get the license to practise and trying to find a job, just takes too much of energy and effort. I can write stories about this!
Hey PILLAY
if you want more info about migrating to Australia
try out this site bro https://doctorhornbill.org/
a friend of mine working in sarawak recommend this
The situation has changed since 2018. The visa requirement and area of need has changed since April 2018 and July 2019. The AMC passing rate is only about 20% with no guarantee of a job . While you can try if you have all the money but don’t expect it to be smooth sailing. The opportunities are getting less by the day
Despite the passing rate for the AMC being so low, a few are willing to take the risk to try. Best wishes to them
Yes but many of them are already in debt by the time they graduate.So, only the rich can do this.
I would say that the UK, at this point in time, is a viable option for doctors who have completed internship. They have relaxed many immigration laws surrounding doctors, including removal of minimum salary limits, creating a fast track visa review body, and exclusion from RLMT (ie preference by nationality). Even entering specialty training is easier now, although the training in UK is notoriously long (6-10 years for most specialties).
However, most jobs in the UK have for a long time been contract basis, so they may close the gates when gaps are filled. This happened in the early 2000s.
The main deterrent is cost. It’s not cheap to get GMC registration and visa (which has to to be paid everytime you renew a contract). The pay in the UK is also not as high as many other countries.
Nevertheless, I would say the UK is currently a gaping window of opportunity for job and training to become a specialist.
Your degree must be recognised or you need to pass PLAB exam
You would have to take PLAB so long as you graduated anywhere outside of UK. The alternative is to pass all membership exams for any of the Royal Colleges, MRCP being the fastest since you can take it even during HO.
Then how about the future medical school applicants who want to work in the UK? They can apply directly to UK medical schools, IMU with UK partner medical schools or even NuMed. Out of these 3 options, it seems IMU is a safer and less troublesome option. Then it is much easier for them to join UK housemanship (foundation) and specialty training. Of course, only the rich can do it. Also only the rich can accept a contract job without any worry.It seems like those from poor families should become rich first before applying to medical schools.
The UK specialty training is really too long.They still can try their luck in the US. They still can get a popular medical residency in the US if they apply to high crime US states.But it is of course not recommended.
Also , only the rich can even spend all the money sitting for PLAB etc. Many people do not understand how US medical system works.
Medical education has always been a cash cow, that’s why so many cropped up in the last 20 years. The options for poor students have always been limited.
The UKFPO is indeed not a viable option right now, so medical students still need to cross their fingers for an internship anywhere. But getting into UK after that is not exorbitantly expensive. Whether it’s PLAB or Royal College exams, the USMLE is still more expensive. If financial constraints are a concern, get a nontraining job first because many UK hospitals are desperate enough that they will fund your visa fees and relocation expenses. Once you’ve got enough to fund your own visa costs, you can apply for specialty training.
Also, I disagree with the notion that contract jobs are only for the rich. Contract jobs have been a norm for most professions and trades, certainly as a newbie. It’s a powerful way to keep people updated and on their toes. The Malaysian system may have cultured the idea that doctors deserve permanent employment from the get go, but thanks to that we have incompetence and redundancies that can’t get rid off.
There are many universities that are promoting the USMLE as part of their medical degree. How feasible do you think this is Dr Paga? Are the successful applicants for USMLE big in number? Appreciate your insight!
Yes, this has been going on for the last 4-5 years. It is a marketing strategy. Firstly, the cost of sitting for these exams are high, especially Stage 2 which you have to go to US to sit. You are competing with the entire world for residency. The data is available at their website where you can see how many from each country manage to get residency post. I know quite a few who never manage to get any residency program of their choice in US despite spending close to RM80-100K. Furthermore, I feel many do not know how the US system works, the stress level and the high litigation rate. You will never get the popular residency post.Furthermore, US has also increased their number of medical schools over the last 10 years.
This just came in. All civil servants in Kelantan must wear the songkok every Thursday. Wonder if Doctors in the government Hospitals must abide by this.? Will it stop at songkok only or go beyond? And what about other states?
I think federal officers not necessary to follow state orders.
Good day Dr Paga. Are we come into a Paradox where on paper there is glut of doctor in Malaysia and at the same time we are running out of doctors for expansion of service ?
Do you agree with DG’s statement below ?
“We are currently underfunded, understaffed, underpaid, overworked, overstretched and with facilities overcrowded with patients. We all need to try harder to improve the public healthcare system to increase the funding, to increase the number of healthcare workers, to improve the salary scale and availability of job and posts in our health facilities; all of which are beyond the control of MOH.”
This will be the beginning of viscous domino effects, which likely to impact the specialist training eventually.
KKM is purely unsustainable with current revenue system in Malaysia.
For me the glut is here. The issue is maldistribution and job opportunities. No one promises you a job. Saying that, the public sector is not expanding with the need of the population. However, i feel the way the government is going is to introduce a national health financing scheme and merge both public and private sector into a national healthcare system. Only then, maldistribution can be solved. The current system of private and public is not sustainable.
Hi Dr Paga,
In your personal opinion, will the private doctors agree to the merging of public and private health systems? Wouldn’t that and the introduction of national health financing scheme reduce their incomes? I don’t see how unregulating doctor’s consultation fees and then having a NHFS will solve the revenue problem as the scheme wouldn’t be able to cover exorbitant fees that will be charged by the doctors in private practice. Hope you can shed some light on this Dr Paga.
NHFS by itself will become an indirect fee regulator. It will determine the fee that would be paid by the NHFS for every consultation and procedures. Anything more that being charged will be paid by patient, which in most instances, patient would not pay! In a way, the doctor’s income will reduce as I have written in one of my article in June 2019 but they can still have a comfortable income to live a comfortable life. Era of tons of money is going! This is similar to most developed countries. For example in Australia, Medicare pays up to 75% of the consultation and procedure fee in private sector. But this 75% is based on the medicare benefit fee and not what is charged by the doctor. So, if the doctor charges higher than the medicare benefit rate, patient will have to pay out of their own pocket. In most instances, the patient will find doctors who do bulk billing aka charging the medicare benefit rate! So, most doctors will end up charging medicare rate!This is how NHS will control the fee indirectly. The public and private sector works in a hybrid system.
Looks like the DG is contradicting himself. Many problems in the health department but the MOH cannot do anything.When you are appointed to a position, you are supposed to solve problems as they emerge. Not pass the buck to others. Then the question arises as to what are you doing in that position?
In very simple terms, our Government `s priority is not healthcare at present. Everything is sustainable as long as you get your priority right. Defence, healthcare and education will see no returns on spending. So you use the revenue from other sectors to sustain these sectors.
Possibly our Dr Paga can shed more light on this.
our government bureaucracy is painful! Partly what the DG said is right. Despite being a DG, MOH can only propose. It is up to MOF, JPA and the cabinet to approve those proposals. As I had always said, out current healthcare system is not sustainable. It will collapse one day. The restructuring of our healthcare system is long overdue!
Looks like everything is decided at JPA level and by JPA alone! Health Minister not informed by JPA that his thousands of new MOH staffs will not get their critical allowance come 2020. Same with other govt professional categories. Youth Minister also was not briefed on the critical allowance cut by JPA and made noise in twitter. Strange!!
Frankly, i think it is all wayang! Firstly, only the new staffs will be affected, not the current staffs. How many new staffs do you think the government is going to recruit annually when all posts are already FULL? The numbers are going to be very small compared to the number of applicants. So, if you don’t want to take it, many more are waiting!
Don`t be surprised everyone in the cabinet is aware but all pretending never been informed. Politicians are one group of people whom you should never trust. If you do not know how to lies you cannot be a politician. Always they will blame others or the press misquoted them.
Dr Pagal is a genius. He used the right word. Wayang! All the way.
Hi doc,
Happy New Year to you! Couldn’t agree more with what you have written in this blog. All your predictions are coming true bit by bit.
However, I have spoken recently to some high school leavers and also their parents. The mentality that being a doctor secures a good life is still entrenched in our society. Their mentality is that barring the hardships of HO and MO, once they become a specialist, they will be earning really well in the private sector, up to 6 digits per month! These are all live conversations that I had recently and nothing can change these people’s minds.
Even if I quote them to read your blog, these students or their parents will quote some specialists they know who are driving big cars and getting a big paycheck in the private sector. Some even asked me where else can you earn RM100k per month!
I know you have spoken at length about this doc, but I reckon another blog post regarding this will actually jolt these people. Do you have any advice for them, especially those SPM leavers who are deciding on medicine for a ticket to a better life? Thanks doc!
I think I have written everything that they need to know in this blog. As I had always said, people will not believe till they are at the receiving end! Just ask them: we have more than 60K doctors in this country, how many private specialist are there in this country? It will be around 10%! How many of this 10% will be earning that amount? How many hours are they working to earn that amount of money? The stress level and litigation rate? How many years it takes to become a specialist? The problem with our public is, they think you can become a specialist instantly and straight go to private to make money! No matter what you say, they will not believe you till they ‘kena’ themselves! I have seen it myself, parents grumbling after they spend half a million and ended up not making the money they expected their son to make immediately after graduation and not spending time at home!!
It’s so perplexing that they don’t want to see what’s in their face! All they need is one example to quote about the possibilities of working in the private sector and making big bucks!
Maybe the statistics you quote is what they need to see the reality of whats happening out there doc. If they only know one doctor who is making rm100k a month, everything else just clouds their eyes! Realistically doc, what is the percentage of specialists that actually make 6 digits if I may ask? It’s so frustating to deal with people who only see the end result without knowing the reality facing them! Having more facts makes it easier to reason out with them.
In a single private hospital of about 20 consultants, you may have 2 or 3 consultants who will earn more than 100K per month, mostly surgical discipline or procedural based discipline (Cardiology/Gastro). And almost all of them will be in the hospital almost 24 hrs! In Klang Valley, not many surgeons are even reaching 60K(pre tax) nowadays due to competition and too many private hospitals. You also need to consider how many of these so-called consultants earning more than 100K who are actually practising ethically! You will be shocked!
That’s something to ponder on Dr Paga! But unfortunately, those 2 or 3 consultants are the ones that will be quoted by parents/students about life as a doctor! Those making more than 100k a month will be looked upon as the norm of life as a doctor!
Being a doctor in private practice making money seems to be what many medical students imagine their life to be. I didn’t know life in private hospitals in Klang Valley is competitive! What do doctors in Klang Valley earn on average then doc? Since a majority of doctors would want to work in the city anyways, let this guide them!
There are one private hospital every 10km in Klang Valley! Each hospital will have a number of consultants of each speciality. An orthopaedic doctor almost 10-15 years ago could easily reach 100K/month due to high number of road accidents in Klang Valley. Now, even reaching 50-60k/month is considered good enough! That’s the reality. Don’t forget it’s “doc eat doc world” out there which they will only find out once they are in the hospital. That’s the reason why many get pulled into unethical practices as they “believed” that they are going to make tonnes of money once they go private. Once they realise that they are only making slightly more than the government sector (after tax), they begin to try money making ways! Furthermore I have many members of the public who thought that it is the hospital which is paying a salary to the consultant and thus they assume that the hospital is paying 100K/month for the consultant. When I tell them that I am self employed and only earn what I charge the patient minus the room rental and admin fee, they get a shock! A lot of my patients also had similar understanding!
10-15% of people in any profession will earn the same amount, just that public do not want to see it! They only want to see what they want to see. My engineering friends were driving bigger cars than me even before I finished my subspecialty training. All of these I have written in my blog. Trust me, I have junior doctors who have approached me last few years, who had read my blogs when they entered medical school, confirming to me that whatever I wrote is the truth and they should have listened! Many regretted doing medicine with the intention they had in their mind” easy life and good money!
RK, please tell the parents to read this blog fully. Doc has explained many times on this matter. But even after reading, they will not be convinced. They will continue to push their children to do medicine.
And if you were to tell them personally, especially to Indian parents or students, the immediate feeling is one of envious. You are jealous of their possible success and nothing else. That is why you are advising them not to pursue medicine. This will be their general thinking.
Pillay, you hit the nail on the head! They would never think that I am trying to just lay out the reality out there. The immediate reaction would be that we are just out to discourage them because we don’t want them to succeed, especially Indian parents like you pointed out. With this mentality even if Dr Paga would talk to them personally I don’t know if they would change their minds!
The year 2019 is over. For the year 2019 , is any statistic giving the number of houseman getting permanent MO , contract MO ,extension of houseman and dropping out of housemanship?
How would the statistic be for 2020?
People are stupid. So let their children be doctors. See how their kids fair tackling finding employment and dealing with mental health problems related to working in health care. Then they would be regretting their decision. But sadly bak pepatah melayu “the rice has become porridge”
for 2019, as I have written before , slightly more than 1000 applied for permanent post upon completion of HO and only less than 500 got it. The rest are extended contract. I expect the situation to be worst in 2020
People know but the mind does not accept reality.You can use any proverbs but the decision is already made. I know of a family of four sisters and one brother. Except for one, all the families have children either in medical school or just joined Foundation program with the aim of joining medical school later. Total four doctors in the making. One can only advise beyond which only wisdom can do its part. Anyway ,let nature take its course. One day in the future all will change.
In most developed countries the mindset has already changed. We are still developing!
The medical schools are also playing a lot of tricks. All private medical schools are profit driven. So, they tell the students/parents that you will get HO in 6 months and you can sit for USMLE and work in US etc etc. They don’t tell them the truth! They make it look easy: no job here, go to US lah!
Well said Doc. I had mentioned this before. The main culprits are the medical schools here, along with the politicians. Profit is the only motive.Most of them are surviving because of the medical programs. So it is not possible to restrict the student numbers in medicine. The student counselors will give the potential students a bigger bull as they are all kpi oriented. The more medical students they get, the more commission they will receive. They cannot afford to tell the truth and neither are they aware of what is happening. A graduate in marketing or business, since cannot find any job, becomes a counselor only to start recruiting medical students for his/her own survival. Do you think the shareholders, the Board of Directors or the politicians bother about excess medical graduates produced by the medical schools? The saga just continues…..
Of course they don’t bother. They don’t guarantee anything after you graduate.
Thank you. Will pass the link to those who are intending to migrate to Australia.
Is there a link posted?
but whats the alternative for those graduates? whine in malaysia? read blogs reminding them of the mistake they did when they became doctors? rather than pointing out what the authorities did wrong and having a “i told you so” attitude towards those who already have a medical degree and regret it why not try having some constructive thinking. your blog is to inform medical doctors and students about career decisions. you should use it come up with other alternatives on how they can earn a daily living rather than being pessimistic about everything. sure life sucks right now, but you have the power to give them some hope no matter how bleak the future might be.
I have written enough. Do you know how many of them are already in debt by the time they graduate? How many of them can even spend more money to sit for other exams to try their luck? Most of them who do this are children of rich parents. But majority are not in this category! I have seen enough of them coming to me asking for money and trust me, majority of them got no money even before they graduate. I also know many who spent money doing all this exams and coming out empty handed. So, I rather tell them the risk than asking them to spend more money. If they have all the money in the world, then they can do whatever they want. Do not also forget that in Australia, you renew your contract yearly and some have to jump from one hospital to another and even between states to get a job. The blog that you gave is a person who is already in a permanent job for about 9 years with U48 salary before going to Aussie. He also made many sacrifices to save money to do what he wanted. /p>
Giving up a permanent job in Malaysia to get an unstable job in Australia is extremely risky. It is highly possible that many Malaysians mistakenly think medical doctors in other countries are permanent jobs just like in Malaysia.Many Malaysians(including parents) also mistakenly think local medical degree holders can work everywhere in the world.
Yes, that is a common misconception. In Aussie, once you finish internship, you will be on yearly contract. Many will go around working in several hospitals till they get into the specialist training program(which you must be a PR before applying). Only then they can sort of assured of getting a 3 year contract to complete their training. Then they need to find a job again depending on vacancies. It is not uncommon for you to see many jumping from one hospital to another and between states just to get a full time job. Some survive doing locums in regional hospitals. The GP market is less competitive but international graduates are only allowed to work in non-DPA areas.
Hello Dr Paga
I just saw my blog being referred from your site.
I have been reading your blog for years and also foresaw what will happen to the Malaysia’s medical field
I know its a matter of time before they go after the permanent posts as well.
It was not easy for me to migrate, I had to use all the resources that were available to me at that time.
Like I said in my blog, it is not a cookie-cutter template. What worked for me may not work for everyone else. Policies change all the time. They have to read about the visa stuff on their website to see the latest updates.
I guess you can say that about everything in life.
I just wanted to use that blog to chronicle my journey. If anyone wants to get advice from it, be my guest. But the decision for them to come over is entirely up to them.
Hope it clears this up
Hi Sebastian, there is nothing wrong with your blog. You have written about the cost and how difficult the journey is. The problem with our society is, one ‘success’ story like that will make everyone to assume that they are going to be successful! It is similar to the USMLE madness that is going on now! That’s why I rather tell them the chances of success or the risk they have to take before even considering to venture into it. For every ‘success’ story there are more than 10 unsuccessfull stories out there. Of course these stories never get published or blogged! I know the Australian system very well and have spoken to many who are in the system. I know many who even returned to Malaysia as they were unable to get into the training program in Australia especially surgical training which is very competitive.
When one reads this blog ,one is in a better position to assess the situation in Malaysia and in other countries, especially Australia.A doctor can only tell the smoker the dangers of smoking. It is up to the smoker to find ways to quit smoking. This blog cannot be a cure-all for doctors in Malaysia.Knowing the problem itself is half the battle won. From the information provided, doctors can picturise the current and possibly future situation in Malaysia, and work on strategies for them. It is better to be informed of the reality, rather than giving a rosy picture out there. It definitely hurts but better to wake up from the slumber now. Some good readers have given links to blogs in Australia where you can get wider information about the situation there.Just to sit for the AMC exam, getting the sample exam questions, registration work, accommodation, flight and food easily can touch RM30K. If you have the money and given the low passing rate, you can always give it a try. Solutions for all problems are out there. Only you have to search for it.
By the way, Dr Paga, do not be offended if any reader has used inappropriate sentences to rile you up. This blog has served as a source of pertinent and valuable information for many readers. they are all grateful to you.It is only the handful of people out there who are willing to share their thoughts with others, willing to spend time reading and replying the queries and on top of updating the information.You could use that time for something else but you chose to keep us informed.. Thank you very much and keep on updating us please.
I am used to it. Thanks
You should be commended for your time and effort in writing this blog. It does provide valuable news and constructive suggestions not found in official statements and newspapers. You are right in many aspects. I did inquire recently from MOH about permanent MO posts. The information, I obtained was that no permanent MO posts were offered to the previous contract houseman, who were to have completed their 2 year housemanship last year. This is effective from the cohort of houseman from March/April 2017 who were to have completed on April 2019 onwards. Permanent offers will only be made when vacancies arise.
So contract MO’s will have to handle the situation, be calm and somehow adjust to it.
Yes, it will be a norm soon as in many other countries.
Hey PILLAY
if you want more info about migrating to Australia
try out this site bro https://doctorhornbill.org/
a friend of mine working in sarawak recommend this.
This link was forwarded by one good soul in our group. Thank you to him.
many thanks!
The Star just carried a report that 4 MO’s were terminated in Sarawak. Would that be true?
From the petition I can see that they were appointed as contract MO in 2017 which means they are direct MO appointment. Likely it is to complete compulsory service only which is 2 years. Now compulsory service done and the government is not obliged to provide a job. Sad but the reality for most of those who are finishing HO from now onwards
.
One needs to read the Star report a couple of times to understand slightly the issue at hand. Lesson 1. When you are employed on contract, you can be asked to leave anytime and you too can leave anytime. There is no requirement for any reason to be given by the employer because you are employed on contract.Four doctors had their contracts terminated. Two in Sarawak, one in Johore and one in Pahang. Lesson 2. There could be reasons why these particular doctors had their contract terminated. We should read and keep ourselves updated. We must not comment because we are not in a position to know what actually transpired. Getting politicians involved, in this matter SUPP, may be beneficial or aggravate the situation. We need to wait and see. Doctors making statements like – I was given the chance to work in Britain but came back to serve this country- best for our readers to decipher it. But as Dr Paga mentioned, those doctors currently employed in the contract system need to take note that the sword of damocles is hanging over their head. Buying a house, getting married, starting a family and what not – everything is in a limbo! Really sad but that is the cycle of life.
Their contract was just not renewed. It will become a norm soon. It is the same in many other countries as well. The employer do not need to give any reason for non renewal of a contract.Similar to private hospitals in Malaysia. There is no guarantee that a specialist contract will be renewed.
Hi Doctor.would like to ask.my sister is a contract MO currently.she started her contract on 15 May 2017.So by right she will get her permanent/contract post probably in Feb/March (supposedly 3 months prior to her contract term). My question is..can she work as in private if she refuse to continue? She already has valid APC and Full MMC reg number..
She can only work in private once she completes her 4 years compulsory service which would be after May 2021.
Just a clarification. On Nabila`s query. Her sister`s contract MO started in May 2017. Is it MO or HO? The contract system I believe started in November 2016. Assuming she is HO, as Dr Paga said correctly, she has to complete her compulsory service before taking the next step. If not any doctor just graduated could enter private practice without any training.
My understanding is, she is under HO contract starting May 2017
Are the Sarawak doctors who had their contracts discontinued, also JPA scholars?
It does not matter. MOH had already said before that whether you are scholar or not, does not make any difference.
Obviously the next question coming is – what will happen to the bond if they were under scholarship? Have to pay back.
One doctor under the old system did her Masters at a local University.. Fully sponsored by the Government .Very happy. In between she met some other doctors who advised her to move to Australia.She packed her bags and flew to Australia. Just two years back.The Government is now suing her for RM100,000. The story of her life.
Yes, Master if done under KKM sponsorship, you are bonded. You need to pay back if you leave. As for those who got their contract terminated, my understanding is that there will not be any pay back as it is the government who did not give you a job. That’s the reason since 2016, JPA do not provide scholarship to do medicine anymore.
Just a point to consider but would become a controversial issue. If JPA does not provide a job to scholars in other professions within a stipulated period, the scholars are allowed to find a job on the private sector or overseas. Can the same principle be applied to the medical profession?
Yes as long as they complete the compulsory service. As for overseas, only if your degree is recognised
I must correct myself then. If the Government terminates your contract and if you were on scholarship, then there is no need to pay back as it is the Government that could not provide you with the job.
According the Codebluegalencentre website just recently ,more doctors have not got their contracts renewed. The trend is just stating, I assume?
yup
Looks like those who have passed PLAB or MRCP still have the opportunity to try to move to UK now before they tighten the rules there. Rather than looking at the bleak picture here for new doctors, one may want to take the risk to move to UK.
I think they should seriously consider that move. I was told there’s plenty of jobs available, if one is not overly choosy. And the UK is NOT just London…😂
Correctly said. One can always take the risk.Just need to consider all the facts first. The grass is always greener the other side. Need not be UK only. It could be Australia or USA. Always remember for every one doctor who made it there could be ten others who had failed. But we never hear the failed stories. That is what they term as the gold rush. Just have to think and check all the factors before making the move. And once you made the move, make sure you do not regret it. Whatever the situation, just remember, as long as you are alive, you can do wonders.
This may be helpful.
https://thesavvyimg.co.uk/imgs-and-standalone-fy2/
Two questions. From the statistics that I have seen, it appears that not many Malaysian sit for the PLAB exam as compared to Pakistanis, Nigerians or Indians. Why is that so considering that not many are able to get a permanent doctor’s job in Malaysia? Is it advisable for a fresh medical graduate from Malaysia to sit for the PLAB without having done any housemanship given that the set standard of the PLAB is the same as those entering FY2 in UK?
Firstly, it is costly as you also need to travel to UK to sit for the exam. Those Pakistanis, Nigerians and Indians who are doing it are from rich families.PLAB is an entrance exam for those from outside UK. Upon passing , you are eligible to apply for FY1 in UK. If you have done housemanship elsewhere, they may exempt you from FY1 and go to FY2. From 2023, after PLAB, you also need to sit for UKMLE in order to practise in UK.https://www.gmc-uk.org/education/medical-licensing-assessment
I don’t know about Pakistan. In India and Nigeria their main medium of instruction in schools English hence, the Indians and Nigerians speak better english than we Malaysians.
You will be surprised to know that more Pakistanis speak English than Indians. Reason: The education system has remained the same in Pakistan while in India it has changed over the years with the emphasis on regional languages. Each state in India has made their own state language compulsory with less emphasis on English. Nigeria and Ghana were under colonial rule and thus English has remained the medium of instruction there.
UK has the MD or Doctor of Medicine. I do understand it is an academiallyc oriented research postgraduate degree. How different is it from a Ph.D? Does it add to a doctor’s CV if he wants to do medical research ?
MD is more clinically related where as PhD is more lab related.
The Corona virus is expected to hit the Malaysia economy. How does it impact the hiring of new Houseman and MO?
our economy performance last quarter was already the worst in 10 years. This virus will just make it worst. I feel the government will freeze any new post and even cut some allowances as what happened each time economy downturn occurs.
https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2020/02/09/contract-termination-plight-of-mos-not-solved-says-supp
https://www.theborneopost.com/2020/01/19/dr-sim-saddened-by-non-renewal-of-young-doctors-contracts/
https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2020/02/13/contracts-of-mos-to-be-extended
How do you see this situation dr, when they have extended another 2 years of contract for them?
It is a short term measure! These are MOs who came back from overseas. In 2 years time when thousands are not extended, it will become normal. The minister has already mentioned this. Another 2 years extension is not enough to complete your post grad anyway.
Don’t worry. Those MOs will be hired by Dr Paga.
LOL.
Stfu!
What is the latest on waiting period for Houseman training for new medical graduates in 2020?
Last year , I heard that it was 8 months.
Does that still hold now?
I know some waited for about a year! So, it is getting longer
There is again the call to abolish the compulsory service with Government. May a houseman doctor without the 2 years compulsory service, be eligible for Permanent Registration with MMC.
I may be rather naive about the medical fraternity but I believe that even in UK , there is no compulsory service required beyond the 2 years Foundation stage .
You get your full registration once you complete 2 years housemanship. The 2 year compulsory service after that is mainly for service and to seek experience. Yes, there is no compulsory service after foundation year in UK but you can’t open a GP practise unless you complete the GP training program. You need to be trained to become a GP. So, eventually you will have to work for a few years(usually a total of 5 years) before being eligible to become a GP.
Based on the current political and economical scenario, unemployment will continue to rise which do include professionals!!!
No job is guaranteed
Hi Dr Pagalavan, I have been following your blog for years. I love them.
Thanks to your constructive advice – I found out how I can improve my career path as a Malaysia trained medical doctor. I am now a fully employed registrar in intensive care, based in NHS East London since 2019 pre-Brexit (I graduated in IMU MBBS 5 years locally trained, completed 2 yrs HO then 4 yrs MO in Malaysia). I considered myself lucky to be able to secure a 2 yearly renewable contract with my current trust. My UK consultants are a helpful lot to allow me working in the same trust based on good performance. It’s not an easy path for me (join GMC after PLAB, completed MRCP part 1 & 2 without PACES). I gave myself a break after MRCP written paper to complete PLAB in 8 months time. My motivation for not joining postgraduate training/ gazettement in Malaysia – “sadly not recognized anywhere in the world except Malaysia”.
Had a chat with GMC London staff last year : Just a guide for MRCP candidates from Malaysia – GMC will not grant you license to practise in UK if you do not have MMed (4 yrs) & extra 2 yrs clinical experience after MMed. You need to fulfill all 3 criteria (MRCPUK + MMed + 2 yrs) to get GMC full registration. Furthermore it is a very tedious and expensive process to get GMC to recognize your credentials as a “specialist from Malaysia”. Another depressing fact is that with all those money paid & paperwork done, you can only apply to join registrar rank in UK. Unlike JPA Malaysia – applying to a NHS trust job is very competitive, there will be 200+ applicants who are as desperate as you. Your trust will only select 10-20 candidates for interview then decide who is the best to be employed. It’s not all rainbow & sunshine when you graduate as a medical doctor, the path ahead is more complicated & tiresome than other professions.
Yup, that is what I have been saying all this while. Medicine is the least mobile profession in the world. You can’t simply go and work in any other country!
YC,
do you recommend that Malaysians study in IMU twinning programmes with UK partner medical schools to work in the UK in the future? Which IMU partner medical school is best in your opinion?
supergoh,
If you have no financial restrictions & no bonds with any Malaysia scholarship provider, please do IMU twinning progrm with any UK/Canada/Aust partner med school (depending on your preference). Of course by joining UK twinning prgm, you are qualified for GMC registration & you can apply for FY1 (equivalent to 1st yr HO in Malaysia) during your final year in any UK Uni. Though I am not too sure which partner medical school is the best since I’m not someone who studied overseas.
Dear YC,
Forgive my ignorance of the UK NHS system. Your message is indeed enlightening.
May I ask whether a registrar post is a training job or non training job?
Is it at CT1/CT2 or ST3 level? I meant to ask which is the point of entry for doctors who did their MRCP and work experience all in Malaysia.
Does Brexit affect job opportunities ?
Hi J,
Entry level for someone like me with no UK work experience – non training post registrar (equivalent to CT1/2). Currently, building up UK portfolio & experience from scratch. You are allowed to have assessment done as a CT1/2 in non-training post which can count as your training years later. You work just like any ‘specialty doctor’ in Malaysia. My trust is pretty flexible as long as you can show proof of your training via Logbook/ePortfolio/paperwork etc. NHS hired us as specialty grade doctors or medical fellows (like SHO). For non-EU/EEA IMG, need 1 year working experience to join CT or ST formal training post.
YC, I believe you are working for a NHS Barts Trust hospital.
Yea. I am settling with NHS Barts now after all the meticulous planning, hardwork & sacrifices made. My family & close friends said I was mad, boldly quit KKM as a MO with permanent contract -> came to UK in the chaos of worldwide uncertainty in medical employment. Transition from Malaysia to UK medical practice : do-able but not impossible.
WHO has declared Covid 19 as pandemic and worldwide recession is imminent. How would this impact, the recruitment of houseman and MO into government service? Would there be an impact on private hospital recruitment of doctors? Lastly , what about specialist training? Your opinion and forecast should be very welcome during this situation.
there will not be any increase in the number of post and there may be a pay cut as well. It did happen in 1999.
Private hospitals do not pay their consultants, thus it is up to the consultants to decide whether they want to leave civil service. During economic downturns, civil service is still the best to keep your jobs and incomes. Specialist training will go on but there may be reduction in the number of scholarship for local Master’s or subspecialist training overseas.
Adding to the above, the political uncertainty ,possible changes in Government policy towards the medical profession and finally the possibility of increasing the number of medical seats or even medical colleges( who bothers about the moratorium) to satisfy certain individuals/ parties – as no one knows if the individual/party will be around after the next election. Your views will be most welcome.
I don’t think they will do that as the public is already much aware of the jobless situation. They may not want to pour fuel onto the fire!
Dear doctor,
Good day, may I ask for your opinion between offers for direct entry and a twinning programme? The schools in question are NUIG (5yrs, ireland) and PMC (UCD-penang, cert issued from NUIG). People keep telling me that I would be foolish not to go for the direct entry, however I do not really see the point and would greatly appreciate if i could ask your advice and thoughts. I am also worried as from what I’ve seen so far NUIG is a predominantly white campus with not too many opportunities for international students, but I may be mistaken. Most importantly though, is there really an advantage in going for direct entry (NUIG) ? Thank you so much as this is a big dilemma for me. I have done as much research as I can but I would greatly appreciate if I could hear your opinion as I respect your blogposts and honesty.
The advantage of the direct entry which is done in Ireland itself, is the fact that you have a better chance of getting an internship post in Ireland. While both are recognised by Irish Medical council, the chances of you getting an internship post after graduating from Penang is very slim. I am very sure you are well aware of the situation in Malaysia(both politically and job) which will only get worst!
Can I know what’s your view Dr, on the current circular regarding contract MO? Can anyone share the circular here, if you all do have it ?
which circular are you talking about? The last 2 cohorts who completed housemanship , none received permanent employment? Is that the one?
The circular which states that “this is the final contact you will receive from kkm”
Email me
If there is such a circular, can it be shared?,
It’s not a circular but a presentation. You can email me for the particular slide.
Please let me have your email or is it listed on the website? It tried to search. the website
Hardtruths2016@gmail.com
Just emailed to you
Good morning doctor. There is a rumour going around saying some housemen who were under the contract system were made permanent employees. I have told this is not possible as those housemen recruited after December 2016 are ALL on contract employment. In fact those housemen who were able to complete their HO in 2 years were appointed as Floating MOs for nearly 8 months but they ARE still on contract employment. This is my understanding.
Your views on this please. Thank you.
All housemanship since Dec 2016 are under contract, no change! The last 2 cohort of Ho who completed housemanship were only given extended final contract with no permanent post at all. Please read this:
https://codeblue.galencentre.org/2020/03/18/as-junior-doctors-battle-covid-19-some-1500-dont-get-permanent-posts/
Thank you very much for the immediate reply.In the article it says 13% were made permanent MOs. Meaning roughly 600 out of 4,000 housemen.
(Only a mere 13 per cent of some 4,500 doctors from all four cohorts — starting with housemanships beginning on December 5, 2016, since the contract system was introduced — received permanent positions as medical officers, or nearly 600 doctors.)
This means there were some doctors who were made permanent MOs. Possibly this is what the rumour was all about. Unfortunately no one knows what criteria was used. They refused to be transparent too. How does one expect the doctor to full commitment when their job itself is in a limbo? Especially with this Covid19 situation.
Yes, those were the first 2 cohort, the first cohort was the luckiest as 550 got permanent post followed by 2nd cohort of about 66. The rest of the cohorts were NIL. Malaysia is never transparent. In many developed countries, it is the same, all under contract with no guarantee of a renewal.
Very knowledgeable. Very Clear. Very precise. Well, what can I say further?
Thank you very much.
According to the news , 1000 houseman have been hired recently to combat Covid 19 . I am taking this news with a pinch of salt. Are these 1000 posts from the existing queue for houseman? I meant from those who have been waiting for months..
Yes, existing intake, not additional
Dear Doc, I’m an avid reader of your blog would like to know what are your thoughts on COVID-19? How long will this pandemic last? 1 year?
Wah! The billion dollar question.It takes a lot of guts to ask this question. It will definitely need bigger guts to give even a simple answer to the question.
Why? Because no one knows if they are affected by it directly as the symptoms only appear after a few days. Also, anyone can get it anytime. Only your prayers and good deeds are possibly keeping you alive now from it.
There are few who are not seeking treatment thinking their God will help them. Those who are seeking treatment are not saying the truth when history taking is done.
Today , the whole world is looking at doctors as their God. You go to the 26 Government hospitals in Malaysia capable of treating covid19 patients, there will be only tears in your eyes when you see all the doctors risking their lives to save all the patients.Every doctor is ready to assist in the covid 19 department when they see their colleagues, with their protective suit who are unable to eat, drink or go to the toilet for 6 to 8 hours. Many who said doctors have no life, are depending on them today to see their next day, staying alive.
People who think doctors job is sitting in a cosy room and enjoying life would know by now what is the real life of a doctor is. In any outbreaks, we are the frontliners. Our occupational hazard is risk of infection. We can obviously die of these infections. I know doctors who have died of infections acquired from patients.
However, saying all these, COVID 19 has no treatment. Doctors job is to provide supportive treatment, similar to dengue. Furthermore, we are nothing if we don’t have any equipments. Whether you live or not, it is up to God!
No one knows but the peak, I believe will happen within the next 2 months. After which it should settle down if people behave as they are told. Of course many deaths will occur.
An absolutely brilliant conclusion on the role of doctors during this Covid19 pandemic.
Hi Doctor, I am curious on the issue of contract medical officers. 2 questions if i may ask.
1. Say medical officers finishing at the end of their contract, is it still possible for them to be absorbed if they keep waiting regardless of the time, say they patiently wait for 1 or 2 years or so?
2. Do medical officers who have MRCP qualifications are allowed to enter gazettement process to be registered as specialists eventhough they have only receiving contract medical officers?
1. If you do not get the permanent post while under contract, it is very unlikely that you will get a permanent post after that.
2. Technically possible but if your contract ends before you complete gazettement, then problem will arise.
Thank you for the reply doctor, May I again clarify on your comment on finishing the gazettement before the contract MO expires. Do you think practically that is do-able? To have gazettement during contract MO period means part 1 and 2 during housemanship and part 3 at the start of MO, with the remaining 18 months to enter the gazettement process sounds unlikely.
Thank you for the reply beforehand.
Yes, that is the problem!
Please read these abstracts from local newspapers. First one January 20 2020 and the second one February 13 2020. The purpose is to inform you how uncertain the future is for medical doctors here. They can terminate you anytime. By the way, they will NOT give you any reason for your termination either . Really very sad state of affairs.
January 20, 2020
MO contract termination
KUCHING: Sarawak Patriots Association (SPA) was shocked to learn of the termination of the service contracts of two Sarawakian medical officers (MOs).
“The termination is disheartening. What will be the steps taken by the Ministry of Health to assist Dr Wong and Dr Bong?” asked SPA chairman Datuk Dr John Lau Pang Heng in an interview yesterday.
Dr Wong Woan Hui and Dr Bong Ing Hui who served in Sibu Hospital brought up the issue of their contract termination in a press conference last Saturday.
He wanted MOH to come up with an explanation on the termination.
Dr Wong was with the Obstetrics & Gynecology (O&G) department and passed MRCOG part 1 paper in February 2018, while Dr Bong was with the Pediatric department for two years and one year as HO and she had also passed her MRCP (Pediatric) part 1 in 2018.
The two were under training to be a specialist and their requirement was a four-year training under a specialist and consultant.
Both of them had graduated from leading medical schools in United Kingdom and their housemanship was done in United Kingdom as well.
Thursday, 13 Feb 2020
Both Dr Wong and Dr Bong had received a letter from the Health Ministry on Nov 13, 2019 that their contract would not be renewed.
Subsequently, the contracts of another six doctors were terminated.
The six doctors wrote to SUPP education bureau to highlight their predicament, as the bureau had on Jan 18 spoken out for four MOs whose contracts were terminated after two years.
The six were serving in hospitals and clinics in Selangor, Sibujaya, Sabak Bernam, Sandakan, Sungai Buloh and Labuan.
(Sorry Dr. This was discussed in February but being discussed again for the benefit of Ahlung who had posed the question now).
It is not actually terminate. The right term should be non renewal of contract which can happen in any sector.
Dr Paga, you possibly can start a new post title with” For Future Doctors: Doctors in government hospitals are not permanent jobs anymore”. Otherwise, many Malaysians still think doctors are permanent jobs in government hospitals.
Hello Dr, how long do you think the MCO will be further extended?How many months, in your opinion?
Is it advisable to reschedule any wedding plannings to next year, dr?
I would suggest to postpone
Codeblue Galencentre has posted an article that 100 out of 1,500 Contract Junior doctors from the 15 May 2017 cohort were offered permanent posts. Is that correct ?
Codeblue Galen website posted an article that only 100 out of 1,500 contract junior doctors from the 15 May 2017 cohort were offered permanent posts . Is this news correct?
Yes, all of them given U41 and not u44 and all of them posted to Sarawak with no appeal.
Is “posted to Sarawak” or East Malaysia a bad thing? The way it’s written always gives that impression. There’s so many hesitant west Malaysian doctors posted over the years to East Malaysia, and then decided to make EM their homes.
Not at all but generally, most of the doctors do not want to go to Sarawak and Sabah. However, most who do end up settling there!
Saying that, with the current situation, it is very unlikely that you can ever return to Peninsular once you go there, unless you quit civil service.
Why keep pushing WM doctors to EM, yet refused to renew the contracts of Swakian doctors nor offer them permanent post?
If WM doctors do not want to accept posting to EM, then should offer to those Swakians & Sabahans.
Many are unaware that the Malaysian medical specialist program (MMed Malaysia) with MRCP(UK) awarded since July 2010 are recognised for FULL GMC registration with a licence to practice. The MMed must include 4 years of clinical experience plus 2 years of training.
The MMed (Malaysia) postgraduate qualifications with MRCP(UK) are now deemed to have met the same standards as the UK postgraduate qualifications, but that does not guarantee entry to UK speciality training.
However, the GMC Licence to practice must be granted within 3 years after passing the postgraduate qualification.
Now the door is open wider for bright Malaysians to venture overseas.
MRCP has always been recognised in UK and you can be registered by GMC. However, even with the MMed/MRCP + 2 years experience, you will, at the most get a registrar post and not a consultant/specialist post. Basically, you will have to start from where you were before you complete MMed. It is not considered as equivalent to CCT. If you want to be a specialist, then you need to enrol into their specialist program. Basically means, all that you did in Malaysia are of no use. Also not to forget the money and cost involved. Furthermore, why would someone who did MRCP/MMed and 2 years of experience (by then already 11 years in service, age about 36) go to another country and start all over again? Wouldn’t it better to do subspecialty in Malaysia and then consider private sector?
Is the intake for houseman training still being carried out, during this MCO/Covid 19 without any disruption? Are there medical graduates who delay their acceptance of training offers till the Covid 19 situation subsides.?
You remember that 1000 new house men started their housemanship last month? https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2020/03/574824/1000-housemen-additional-hands-not-frontliners
Thanks
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After a gap of few weeks, reiterating some facts. Many new graduate doctors coming in each year. Insufficient places for Housemen. Waiting period gets longer. Even after 4 years working as HO, what are the chances getting absorbed as an MO? Very low chance. Now I have heard MOs themselves are not keen to teach most of the HOs because they will be there only for a short period. On top of this, frustration among MOs is high as they cannot fire the HOs if mistakes are done because next day the Head will call the MOs to fire them. Why? Pressure from the parents. Unbelievable but true.
Very difficult situation. How to do specialisation then? What can they do after 4 years? Can they survive outside? Only they can answer. How many would have mortgaged their properties to finance their studies? How would they settle the loans?
Lot of pressure is on the MOs now compared to the HO. HKL now wants MOs to go to Sabah. Insufficient doctors there. 1 to 2 months. This period is also not confirmed as it could be extended.
One has to sympathise with these doctors. If they sit, they will be shot. If they stand, they also will be shot.
These potential medical doctors would have made a better decision if they had studied Dr Paga’s blog 10 years ago.
Be careful and think independently when listening to parents for career advice. Your parents would likely choose one profession that they can show off to their friends and relatives. Think twice.
I also checked Malaysia Constitution. Which part of the Constitution that states that civil servants must be permanent jobs?