Healthcare workers quitting for jobs abroad? Address the pushing factors first, Noor Hisham says
He pointed out that healthcare reform has been discussed for over four decades, but without strong political will and concrete action, the system would continue to lose valuable talent.
SHAH ALAM – Instead of only trying to lure healthcare workers to stay in the system, the Health Ministry (MOH) must address the root causes pushing them to leave.
Former Health Director-General Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah stressed that it was time to shift from ‘pulling’ strategies to seriously addressing the ‘pushing’ factors that prompted doctors and nurses to seek better opportunities overseas.
He pointed out that healthcare reform has been discussed for over four decades, but without strong political will and concrete action, the system would continue to lose valuable talent.
“We need to re-look the healthcare system in the country. It's important to look at reforms and how we can optimise our resources.
“We must also seriously consider the working conditions and pay for our healthcare workers – doctors, nurses and others who are essential to the system,” he said when met at the Avisena Healthcare ‘Raya Dulu-Dulu’ Hari Raya Aidilfitri Open House, here, today.
Noor Hisham, who is now the UCSI Healthcare Group chairman, also called for a comprehensive review of the healthcare system, urging the government to optimise resources and seriously improve conditions for medical staff.
He added that many Malaysian healthcare workers were fully aware of their value and marketability overseas, making them more likely to leave unless meaningful incentives were offered to keep them in the local system.
“They know they are in demand abroad, so we need to have incentives to retain them in our healthcare system,” he said, urging the Health Ministry to introduce stronger retention measures.
According to MOH data, a significant number of Malaysian healthcare professionals have sought opportunities abroad in recent years.
In 2023 alone, 2,445 nurses submitted applications to work overseas, with 64 per cent coming from the private sector and 36 per cent from public healthcare institutions.
This trend extends to specialist doctors as well, with records showing that 20 specialists resigned from MOH positions between 2013 and 2023 to emigrate, representing one per cent of the 1,991 specialists who left the ministry during that decade.
Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad has previously highlighted the growing demand for nursing staff, projecting that MOH will require over 6,000 additional nurses by the end of 2025 to address workforce shortages.
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