KUALA LUMPUR: A non-governmental organisation led by medical students has urged the Public Service Department (PSD) to review its decision to halt its scholarships for students pursuing medical studies in local universities.
Malaysian Medics International (MMI) in a statement said the decision would impact the near and long-term future of the healthcare sector in Malaysia by diminishing the interest in medical-related programmes.
It said the decision to discontinue sponsoring students in local universities intending to study medical-related programmes was sudden and without any thorough explanation given.
"MMI urges the PSD to provide more information by disclosing the rationale behind the decision to the public.
"For some, they may have been discouraged and dissuaded from pursuing health professions as this scholarship may have been their only means of funding," it said.
In the long run, this may compromise the quality of healthcare professionals as potential candidates might be deterred due to personal financial constraints, it said.
MMI had also requested for PSD to provide insights and details on its projection of healthcare professionals in the next five years.
This, they said, will allow policymakers to review policies on human resource planning and tailor them to current healthcare needs whilst taking population growth into consideration.
"The shortage of healthcare professionals, particularly specialists, in our country remains a pressing issue that has yet to be adequately addressed.
"Despite recommendations in the 11th Malaysia Plan to achieve a 1:400 doctor-to-patient ratio in public healthcare facilities, this target has not yet been met," read the statement.
MMI also highlighted Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa's parliamentary written reply last month.
"Data from the Health Ministry indicated that only 62 per cent of house officer positions have been filled, attributed to House Officer not completing their training, some resigning from their posts or termination.
"Therefore, a drop in qualified and skilled healthcare professionals in the future can be anticipated with the cease of scholarship.
"We urge the PSD to take immediate consideration of the aforementioned issues and review the decision of scholarship suspension."
