ON top of medicine, the Public Service Department (PSD) has stopped providing scholarship to students who intend to pursue dentistry and pharmacy programmes.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah, Sarawak Affairs and Special Duties) Armizan Mohd Ali said the decision was made as there is a sufficient supply of personnel in these fields.

“We have recorded a ratio of 1:420 of the total medical manpower requirements across the country to the population until December 2021 and it is expected that the ratio of 1:400 can be achieved in 2025,” he said.

Armizan said the number of medical officers in 2021 is 72,812, exceeding the demand of 70,721.

“Demand for dental and pharmacy officers will be met in 2025 and 2029.

“However, students already under PSD programmes currently will still be sponsored until 2027,” he said in a written reply to Dewan Rakyat.

Wan Saifulruddin Wan Jan (Tasik Gelugor-PN) had questioned the government on what is being done to halt sponsorship in the fields of medicine, dentistry and pharmacy.

Armizan said a total of 1,774 PSD-sponsored medical students are also expected to receive their respective degrees this year, followed by 69 dental and 296 pharmacy students.

He added that a total of 2,029 medical, 68 dental and 184 pharmacy students will receive their degrees from 2024 to 2027.

Armizan said a Health Ministry study also found difficulties in absorbing all government-sponsored medical students into the public service.

“Through this step, we believe PSD can sponsor more students in other fields.

“The cost of sponsoring a medical student is equivalent to the cost of sponsoring 10 students in other fields,” he said.

He also said medical students can get funding for their studies from the National Higher Education Fund Corporation without being tied to a service contract. 

“The effort can provide space and flexibility to medical students in the selection of employment institutions and the extension of studies in their respective fields of expertise.”

Last March, the Malaysian Medical Association said the PSD decision to halt scholarships for students wishing to pursue medical studies in local universities is irresponsible.

Its president Dr Muruga Raj Rajathurai said PSD should explain their decision, which will have an adverse impact on the country’s efforts to meet the increasing demand for healthcare professionals. 

“Will this move affect the expertise needed in the public healthcare sector in the near future and the long term? What is the government’s policy on human resources planning for the public healthcare sector?” he asked in a statement.

He said Malaysia had yet to reach the ideal doctor-to-patient ratio of 1:400 in public healthcare institutions.

He added that sufficient planning for healthcare human resources was needed, and population growth and demand must be taken into account. – June 11, 2023.