Heading towards 1:400 doctor-to-population ratio

The Health Ministry is heading towards achieving 1:400 doctor-to-population ratio by 2025.

This would be achievable since the doctor-to-population ration in 2022 is 1:412. A decade ago it was 1:758.

“This ratio of 1:400 would include doctors under the ministry, the Higher Education Ministry, the private sector and others.

“We will continue to improve the ratio. In comparison, Singapore has a ratio of 1:270, the United Kingdom has 1:357, Australia has 1:270, Austria has 1:192, Thailand has 1:1,111 and Indonesia has 1:1,400,” Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad told the Dewan Rakyat on July 1.

To achieve this, among the steps taken is increasing medical graduate training slots to 12,198 this year.

More attractive salaries, special allowances and opportunities to further their education under the Federal Training Award scheme to attract more students.

“The Health Ministry is also in the final stages of refining several proposals related to the appointment and placement of Health Ministry personnel through the Human Resources reform programme, which would be announced in the near future,” he added.

He said this in response to a question from Datuk Seri Sh Mohmed Puzi Sh Ali (BN-Pekan) who queried on efforts to address the critical shortage of medical officers nationwide.

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