THE Health Ministry has always taken proactive measures to ensure there is a balance in the ratio of medical specialists to the population, the Dewan Negara was told today.

Deputy Health Minister I Dr Noor Azmi Ghazali said currently, the ministry has 6,102 specialists, of which 5,953 are permanent employees.

“The nation needs more (medical) specialists, and the ministry has been proactive to ensure a balance to the ratio of the population.

“For example, we have added slots for medical officers to undergo specialist training. Some 1,300 slots are allocated for this year, and we have increased (the number for) the Parallel Pathway programme.”

Noor Azmi said the ministry has not only reappointed retired specialists, but also invited those from the private sector, and offered permanent employment status to contract specialists if there are available vacancies.

On medical officers allowed to pursue specialist studies, he said the ministry has offered two routes: one through programmes with local universities, and the other through the Parallel Pathway programme.

A total of 7,357 permanent status officers have followed the Master of Medicine Expertise Programme, while 3,615 officers, including 504 contract officers, have pursued the Parallel Pathway programme since 2015, he added. – Bernama, October 11, 2021.