Malaysia sets 30% specialist training quota to boost doctors in Sabah and Sarawak

The Ministry of Health introduced a scheme reserving 30% of specialist training places for doctors working in Sabah and Sarawak, where recruitment and retention are difficult. About 500 training slots are expected to be allocated, with the aim of improving specialist distribution and patient access in underserved areas. MMA president Dr L Sivanaesan stressed that the programme’s impact will rely on aligning training with the most critical specialty gaps and ensuring doctors stay in service after qualification.

Clinicians Dr Fatin Nurhidayah of KKIA Beluran and Dr Amirah Badrul Hisham of Klinik Kesihatan Sambir 1 expressed optimism, noting reduced reliance on referral hospitals and exposure to regional disease patterns. Researcher Ilyana Mukriz highlighted the need to balance the quota with current workforce numbers and suggested linking it to a minimum rural service commitment. The broader goal is to strengthen specialist capacity while providing incentives, better facilities, and suitable housing for doctors.