Consider PR status for long-serving medical professionals to overcome shortage – DAP

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TAWAU: Sri Tanjong assemblyman Chan Foong Hin claims that many foreign medical professionals, who have been working and living in Sabah for over 10 years, are wondering why they are not getting Permanent Residence status despite the critical shortage of medical officers in the state.

Chan, who is also DAP Sabah vice chairman, in his comment on the issue of the critical shortage of doctors in Sabah, suggested offering special incentive for Peninsular doctors to serve in Sabah is not good enough.

“There must be a feeling of ‘belongingness’ for these medical professionals who are willing to work and be committed to serve the public here in the long term. Otherwise, pure market-driven mechanism would only encourage those who want promotion to take the chance as a stepping stone for their own career path,” he said yesterday.

It was reported that some 700 physicians are currently serving in Sabah and the state needed another 600 more to cope with its increasing population, according to Health Minister Datuk Seri S. Subramaniam.

Sabah is also facing a shortage of assistant medical officers (AMOs).

According to the Association of Medical Assistants Sabah (AMAS) president, Joseph Kajangan, the state presently has 1,160 AMOs serving at public hospitals and clinics, but another 1,000 more are needed.

“I have heard from insiders that many foreign medical professionals, including specialists, have been denied Permanent Residence (PR) in Sabah even though they deserved it with their service track record here. The relevant authorities are welcome to conduct investigation into the allegation,” Chan said.

“Normally, the application process to obtain a PR should be hassle-free but the truth here is strange. Given the required numbers of years in residence in Malaysia and police clearance from the old country and the Malaysian police, a foreigner can apply for a PR. Anything can happen at this juncture from the long delays to the ominous silence from the relevant authorities,” he said.

Chan opines that for those foreign medical professionals who have been working years in Sabah, there is no justification to deny them their PR application. Furthermore, the PR application by these foreign medical professionals itself has proven that they feel a sense of belonging in the local society, and that is the best incentive to attract the best brains here.

“Sabah should seriously woo our brethrens who have gone overseas and highly skilled foreigners, especially those in the medical field. Such expatriates will also sharpen our competitiveness in facing globalization, besides addressing the critical shortage of medical officers,” Chan concluded.