Efforts to arrest cardiothoracic specialist surgeons shortage ongoing

The Health Ministry is using several approaches to arrest the shortage of cardiothoracic specialist surgeons.

“In terms of training, the Health Ministry has increase the Federal Training Prize from 1,500 slots annually to 1,650 slots for the 2024/2025 session to encourage more medical officers to continue their in the Masters level.

“We have also increased medical specialist training opportunities so that more specialists can be produced through the parallel pathway specialist training in the Health Ministry by offering 600 sponsored slots,” said Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad in a written reply to Khoo Poay Tiong (PH-Kota Melaka).

Khoo had asked the Health Ministry on the measures undertaken to curb the shortage of cardiothoracic specialist surgeons since patients have to undergo long waiting period prior to undergoing the procedure.

The minister revealed that there are 17 cardiothoracic surgery specialists working with the Health Ministry.

Another 23 trainees of 16 which are in the parallel pathway and seven in UiTM Medicine Masters program are undergoing specialist training.

There are only two specialist training programs available. One is parallel pathway specialist training since 2014 and the other is cardiothoracic surgery medical masters program in UiTM.

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