As those overseas have stated clearly not the money that kept them away but it is the work prospect that would have kept the professional away.
Applying a job in my own land and so called my country, i have to be screened by many quarters and finally the decision is on the head of the department of the Public Service Department.
For those who have been overseas, have enjoyed all the perks that they have but when they returned, all are gone. What left for is the frustrations.
Of course, i do agree that local train doctors should be at par with the overseas, if they can prove that they are equally good.
In short, all promotion should based on the ability but no relationship with the polictical parties.
MMA president Dr Teoh Siang Chin should understand the different skills that one acquires overseas and locally. Please not just fight for the local trained doctors blindly but should look at the performance,. I know the local trained doctors would feel down with this incentives.
Please be transparent to all sectors. I am very much down that i had many times rejected on the basis that I do not have the B Melayu.
The Star Online > Nation
Wednesday May 24, 2006
MMA: Be fair to local docs
PETALING JAYA: Be fair to doctors from local universities, the Malaysian Medical Association has advised the Government.
“If local specialist doctors are happy and satisfied with their job, they will be the best examples to show to those overseas that it is wise to return home and serve the country,” said MMA president Dr Teoh Siang Chin.
Word of mouth would be a more effective way to attract Malaysian doctors abroad to return home, he said.
“They (the doctors overseas) are sure to ask their colleagues in Malaysia about working conditions here before making a decision to return,” Dr Teoh said, responding to reports that Malaysian specialist doctors would be given an instant reward of a pay rise of about RM4,000 if they come back.
Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek had announced last Saturday that these doctors would immediately move up from the Grade U41 salary scale of RM3,000 to Grade U48 of RM7,000.
Other incentives include an on-call allowance of RM170 (an increase from RM25), allowing locum in government hospitals, and a simplified Bahasa Malaysia examination for service confirmation.
Dr Teoh said the MMA welcomed the move, but added: “I don’t think money is the main factor for doctors to return home, especially those at Grade U48.”
He said they were now earning £3,000 (RM19,791) to £4,000 (RM26,388) per month and coming home would mean a pay cut.
“It has taken them eight to 10 years to reach that level, and with their qualification and experience, I believe they would have more prestige and value in Malaysia.
“It is more important for them to know whether the country is offering them the specialty that they are interested in and whether they are recognised,” he said.
© 1995-2005 Star Publications (Malaysia) Bhd (Co No 10894-D)
Letters
Have hotline for returning doctors 24 May 2006DR T.K.K. Rochester, Minnesota, US
MALAYSIAN Medical Council president Datuk Dr Ismail Merican was kind to go out of his way to appease some of the fears of foreign-trained medical specialists such as myself interested in returning home to serve.These fears remain a major concern. For many, monetary reward is not the prime concern. Rather, concerns range from prolonged waiting periods, non-regulated work hours, postings to departments irrelevant to one’s postgraduate qualifications, rude and prejudiced treatment from people doing the processing, and expatriate spouses (some highly qualified medical experts, too) not obtaining permanent resident status in Malaysia despite waiting for decades. One reads about this sort of problem and often knows friends who were given the runaround in their attempts to work at home. It is obvious these problems are occurring frequently. The actual prevalence, however, may be unclear and the medical council may not be aware of how large a problem this may be.Personally, I found the report quoting Dr Merican (NST, April 14) reassuring. It shows he is taking a personal interest in wanting to improve the doctor-and-patient ratio in Malaysia, and to bring in specialists. However, one also wonders if the people involved in the processing or paperwork share their enthusiasm.To quote a cardiac anaesthesiologist acquaintance who has since left Malaysia to practise in Canada: "I did not spend 11 years training in medicine to be scolded and given the runaround by some clerk." This is believable because years ago, I spent three weeks going to the ministry and calling many times trying to get a letter stating that I am a Malaysian wishing to specialise in the US. I was always told that the person in charge was on "cuti" (holiday) or "keluar minum kopi" (on a coffee break). No one else was available to write that three-line letter.Therefore, I would suggest that a hotline be set up for returning doctors treated unprofessionally or inappropriately, to share their grie- vances.
Applying a job in my own land and so called my country, i have to be screened by many quarters and finally the decision is on the head of the department of the Public Service Department.
For those who have been overseas, have enjoyed all the perks that they have but when they returned, all are gone. What left for is the frustrations.
Of course, i do agree that local train doctors should be at par with the overseas, if they can prove that they are equally good.
In short, all promotion should based on the ability but no relationship with the polictical parties.
MMA president Dr Teoh Siang Chin should understand the different skills that one acquires overseas and locally. Please not just fight for the local trained doctors blindly but should look at the performance,. I know the local trained doctors would feel down with this incentives.
Please be transparent to all sectors. I am very much down that i had many times rejected on the basis that I do not have the B Melayu.
The Star Online > Nation
Wednesday May 24, 2006
MMA: Be fair to local docs
PETALING JAYA: Be fair to doctors from local universities, the Malaysian Medical Association has advised the Government.
“If local specialist doctors are happy and satisfied with their job, they will be the best examples to show to those overseas that it is wise to return home and serve the country,” said MMA president Dr Teoh Siang Chin.
Word of mouth would be a more effective way to attract Malaysian doctors abroad to return home, he said.
“They (the doctors overseas) are sure to ask their colleagues in Malaysia about working conditions here before making a decision to return,” Dr Teoh said, responding to reports that Malaysian specialist doctors would be given an instant reward of a pay rise of about RM4,000 if they come back.
Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek had announced last Saturday that these doctors would immediately move up from the Grade U41 salary scale of RM3,000 to Grade U48 of RM7,000.
Other incentives include an on-call allowance of RM170 (an increase from RM25), allowing locum in government hospitals, and a simplified Bahasa Malaysia examination for service confirmation.
Dr Teoh said the MMA welcomed the move, but added: “I don’t think money is the main factor for doctors to return home, especially those at Grade U48.”
He said they were now earning £3,000 (RM19,791) to £4,000 (RM26,388) per month and coming home would mean a pay cut.
“It has taken them eight to 10 years to reach that level, and with their qualification and experience, I believe they would have more prestige and value in Malaysia.
“It is more important for them to know whether the country is offering them the specialty that they are interested in and whether they are recognised,” he said.
© 1995-2005 Star Publications (Malaysia) Bhd (Co No 10894-D)
Letters
Have hotline for returning doctors 24 May 2006DR T.K.K. Rochester, Minnesota, US
MALAYSIAN Medical Council president Datuk Dr Ismail Merican was kind to go out of his way to appease some of the fears of foreign-trained medical specialists such as myself interested in returning home to serve.These fears remain a major concern. For many, monetary reward is not the prime concern. Rather, concerns range from prolonged waiting periods, non-regulated work hours, postings to departments irrelevant to one’s postgraduate qualifications, rude and prejudiced treatment from people doing the processing, and expatriate spouses (some highly qualified medical experts, too) not obtaining permanent resident status in Malaysia despite waiting for decades. One reads about this sort of problem and often knows friends who were given the runaround in their attempts to work at home. It is obvious these problems are occurring frequently. The actual prevalence, however, may be unclear and the medical council may not be aware of how large a problem this may be.Personally, I found the report quoting Dr Merican (NST, April 14) reassuring. It shows he is taking a personal interest in wanting to improve the doctor-and-patient ratio in Malaysia, and to bring in specialists. However, one also wonders if the people involved in the processing or paperwork share their enthusiasm.To quote a cardiac anaesthesiologist acquaintance who has since left Malaysia to practise in Canada: "I did not spend 11 years training in medicine to be scolded and given the runaround by some clerk." This is believable because years ago, I spent three weeks going to the ministry and calling many times trying to get a letter stating that I am a Malaysian wishing to specialise in the US. I was always told that the person in charge was on "cuti" (holiday) or "keluar minum kopi" (on a coffee break). No one else was available to write that three-line letter.Therefore, I would suggest that a hotline be set up for returning doctors treated unprofessionally or inappropriately, to share their grie- vances.
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