Kuala lumpur: The Ministry of Health (MOH) has introduced a new policy requiring contract medical officers appointed to permanent positions to select at least one placement option in Sabah or Sarawak via the e-Placement 2.0 system. This move aims to address the uneven distribution of healthcare personnel between Peninsular Malaysia and the Borneo states.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad emphasized the government's commitment to reducing the disparity in the placement of healthcare professionals across the country. He highlighted that this approach, implemented for the first time, mandates that one of the three placement choices must be in Sabah or Sarawak.

Minister Dzulkefly made these remarks in response to Datuk Dr Richard Rapu (GPS-Betong) during the oral question-and-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat. The inquiry focused on the measures taken to balance the distribution of healthcare human resources, particularly regarding the placement of specialists, doctors, and nurses.

The ministry has set specific placement quotas for permanent medical officers, with 650 positions allocated in Sarawak and 310 in Sabah. This represents 42.7 percent of the 2,248 officers recently appointed nationwide. Additionally, as of March 31, 1,002 contract medical officers were placed in Sabah and 937 in Sarawak to meet the workforce demands at public health facilities.

For long-term efforts, Dzulkefly noted that the MOH supports initiatives by state governments to offer scholarships for medical and health studies. The ministry also provides additional merit points for those serving in remote and interior areas of Sabah and Sarawak, enhancing the evaluation process for scholarship candidates.

In response to a supplementary question on strategies to retain medical officers in the public sector, Dzulkefly highlighted the absorption of contract officers into permanent roles as a key measure. Over the past three years, more than 13,552 contract medical officers have transitioned to permanent positions.

This effort aligns with recent amendments to the Medical Act, recognizing the Parallel Pathway and local Master's programmes. This initiative aims to encourage doctors to remain in public service.