Malaysia to approach India, Pakistan for doctors

KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia will soon approach the governments of India, Pakistan and Egypt for medical specialists to work in the country, as previously recruited doctors were found “not very good”, the health minister has said.

Malaysia is facing a lack of medical specialists and many patients are forced to go to India. Indian doctors also come to perform surgeries in Malaysia.

The health ministry had advertised in the foreign media for specialists, but those who applied were “not very good”, The Star newspaper quoted Health Minister Seri Liow Tiong Lai as saying.

Many of those who came directly after interviews had to leave because of “attitude problems”, Lai said Sunday in Johor Baru, around 300 km from Kuala Lumpur.

“The doctors who replied to our advertisements were qualified, but many of them were sent back because of attitude problems.”

“Of course, these doctors also had to go through an interview locally. But sometimes, they could not perform according to our expectations,” he said.

“By working directly with the governments, we would be able to hire better doctors, as they would be vetted by both the foreign and local governments,” he said.

Lai said the Egyptian health ministry has submitted a list of 58 specialists who would be recruited to work in local hospitals or medical facilities.

“Many of them are more than willing to leave their country and serve here,” he said.

There would be an agreement for these doctors to serve only for two years. The same would be applicable for specialists from India and Pakistan.