PUTRAJAYA: The Ministry of Health is looking for a solution for medical graduates who have to wait long to get their posting for housemanship in government hospitals.
Minister Datuk Seri Dr S Subramaniam said the ministry was discussing the matter with the Public Service Commission and the Public Service Department to tackle the problem.
“I have discussed the matter with PSC and PSD and a solution is expected to be announced in the coming months. Once this happens, we will solve the issue of new doctors having to wait long for their posting,” he said in a recent exclusive interview with Bernama News Channel.
Subramaniam said that each year between 5,000 and 7,500 medical students graduated from institutions of higher learning and registered for housemanship at government hospitals.
Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) president Dr Ashok Zachariah Philip had said that he anticipated that it would be difficult for medical graduates to get places for housemanship at government hospitals in the future if the number of medical students was not reduced.
Subramaniam said a number of housemen could not complete their housemanship within the two years, and thus denied others places at the hospitals where they were attached to.
“Lack of ability and knowledge and indiscipline result in some medical graduates being unable to complete the housemanship within the two years.
“As such, fresh medical graduates have to wait for up to seven months for housemanship,” he said. — Bernama