KOTA KINABALU: The healthcare system in Sabah is teetering on the brink of a severe crisis as nearly two-thirds of medical officers assigned to the state have failed to report for duty, the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) Sabah Branch has warned.
According to data compiled by the association, out of 138 medical officers from outside Sabah expected to report to state hospitals in the latest exercise, only 47—approximately 34 per cent—had taken up their posts.
The alarming shortfall highlights a growing reluctance among medical personnel to serve in East Malaysia, with doctors increasingly choosing to forfeit prized permanent appointments rather than accept relocation.
MMA Sabah Chairman Dr Brandon Patrick Senagang cautioned that the majority of hospitals affected by the recent movement of medical officers experienced a net loss of staff rather than a gain.
He emphasised that whilst contract doctors have long sought permanent positions for career security, a staffing establishment that exists merely on paper does not treat patients or run a hospital.
The deficit has left remaining healthcare workers carrying an unsustainable burden. In several hospital departments, doctors are currently forced to perform on-call duties every other day due to acute staffing shortages.
The association warned that this creates a vicious cycle of exhaustion, burnout, and further attrition, which will ultimately result in longer waiting times, treatment delays, and reduced capacity to maintain safe clinical services.
In response to the escalating situation, MMA Sabah fully endorsed the demands of MMA National President Dr Sivanaesan Letchumanan, urging the Federal Government to introduce urgent reforms ahead of Budget 2027.
These proposed measures include restoring the percentage-based Regional Incentive Payment (BIW), enhancing financial incentives specifically for East Malaysia, providing greater certainty regarding posting durations, improving relocation assistance, and offering meaningful postgraduate career opportunities for those serving in underserved regions.
However, the association stressed that resolving the manpower shortage cannot remain the sole responsibility of Putrajaya.
The Sabah State Government must step forward as a proactive partner, particularly by treating staff accommodation as an essential piece of healthcare infrastructure.
The state has been urged to collaborate with the Ministry of Health (KKM) to repair dilapidated quarters and expand housing capacity in remote districts where suitable rental options are non-existent.
Furthermore, MMA Sabah outlined the need for state-specific supplementary incentives, such as local transport assistance and accommodation allowances, to make choosing Sabah financially viable for medical officers.
The local administration must also invest in basic surrounding infrastructure—such as reliable water and electricity supplies, road connectivity, and internet access—to improve the daily living conditions of healthcare workers and local communities in rural areas.
To secure long-term sustainability, the association highlighted the importance of cultivating a local medical pipeline by expanding scholarships and financial assistance for Sabahans pursuing medical degrees and specialist training.
Alongside these educational initiatives, MMA Sabah proposed the creation of a structured Federal-State platform involving KKM and local health authorities to continuously monitor staffing shortages and explore public-private collaborations before facilities reach critical condition.
Dr Senagang warned that both federal and state authorities must act in unison before the situation deteriorates into an outright breakdown.
“The warning signs are already in front of us,” he stated, stressing that action must be taken immediately to ensure doctors are physically on the ground, properly supported, and given compelling reasons to remain in the state.-pr/BNN
