KUALA LUMPUR: There are 8,397 specialists currently serving at the Health Ministry's healthcare facilities in 29 specialty areas.

In a parliamentary reply yesterday, the Health Ministry said the total are those who have been gazetted, with another 1,276 specialists currently being gazetted.

There are currently 736 specialists in anaesthesiology and critical care; anatomical pathology (165); cardiothoracic surgery (17); chemical pathology (77); clinical radiology (485); emergency medicine (494); family medicine (673); forensic pathology (47); general pathology (139); general pediatric (610); general surgery (372); haematology (98); internal medicine (1,412); medical microbiology (92) and neurosurgery (65).

A total of 37 specialists in nuclear medicine, obstetrics and gynaecology (509); oncology (54); ophthalmology (336); orthopaedic (473); otorhinolaryngology (224); paediatric surgery (460; plastic surgery (46); psychiatry (367); public health (586); rehabilitation medicine (82); sport medicine (49); transfusion medicine (74) and urology with 33 specialists.

The ministry said this in reply to Datuk Awang Hashim (PN-Pendang), who asked about the number of specialist doctors who are still serving with the Health Ministry by field and the steps taken to ensure that these specialists remain serving in public hospitals to ensure sufficient availability in all fields including critical areas.

The ministry said it is constantly improving to expand specialist services at the government health facilities to Malaysians.

Among the initiatives include an increase in Federal Training Prize (HLP) sponsorship from 1,500 slots annually to 1,650 study slots for the 2024/2025 session to encourage more medical officers to continue their studies and an increase in medical specialty training opportunities so that more specialist doctors are produced through the Parallel Pathway Specialist Training Programme, which offers 600 sponsored slots.

"Other initiatives include the re-appointment by contract of medical specialists who have retired to serve with the ministry, especially in areas with a high need for specialist services and specialist service from the private sector to serve on a sessional basis and to encourage Malaysian specialists who are serving abroad to return to the country."

https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2024/06/1068443/over-8000-specialists-currently-serving-govt-healthcare-facilities