Govt dangling up to RM37,000 a month in bid to attract medical specialists

The health ministry is seeking to attract medical specialists to contribute to the country’s healthcare system including through the offer of up to RM37,000 a month for those in higher positions.

Those in Grade UD53, UD54, UD55 and UD56 can also earn up to RM21,000 a month in wages and allowances, Deputy Health Minister Dr Noor Azmi Ghazali said in the Dewan Rakyat today.

He said this was among the ministry’s initiatives to attract and retain existing specialists working with the government.

“The ministry has also considered promoting medical specialists to Grade UD54 in nine years’ time,” he said.

“We also have added on methods of promoting and introduced Grade UD56 in January 2017 as well as the add-on emolument of as much as RM2,000.”

In terms of retirement meanwhile, he said medical specialists would be offered a package where benefits are given in both monetary and non-monetary methods.

In September, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said the country was in need of 28,000 medical specialists by 2030.

Speaking in the Dewan Rakyat, he said the current shortage in medical specialists had resulted in longer waiting periods for those seeking treatment by such doctors.

He also spoke of better offers in the private sector which he said were among the reasons for medical specialists leaving the government service.

He said a special committee was formed on Aug 20 among others to look into ways to extend benefits for contract medical and healthcare workers, giving the example of Putrajaya’s sponsorship programme for those who wished to continue their education.