At least 217 doctors have left their positions at hospitals across Sabah after securing permanent appointments, exacerbating an already critical shortage of medical professionals in the state. Data from the Sabah Health Department indicates that Hospital Queen Elizabeth and Sabah Women and Children Hospital experienced the highest number of departures, with 24 and 42 doctors leaving respectively. Other affected facilities include Hospital Duchess of Kent in Sandakan (31), Hospital Tawau, and Hospital Queen Elizabeth II (both 24).

The shortage is particularly acute in rural and interior areas of Sabah and neighboring Sarawak, where many doctors from Peninsular Malaysia decline postings. Sources attribute this reluctance to concerns about career advancement opportunities, inadequate infrastructure, and challenging living conditions. Doctors posted to remote locations such as Limbang, Kapit, and Lawas in Sarawak face issues like unstable telecommunications, unreliable utilities, and difficulty accessing basic amenities. The high cost of living and insufficient allowances, especially for those with families, further discourage retention.

Medical staff currently serving in these regions report being overworked and fatigued, with on-call duties increasing from seven to over ten times per month in some cases. Many physicians express frustration but continue to provide care despite the pressures caused by staff shortages. The difficulty in securing adequate housing and the comparatively high rents in Sabah add to the challenges faced by government medical officers.

In response to the situation, Sabah state politicians and healthcare advocates are calling for a return to offering permanent government posts to doctors, including specialists, arguing that the current contract-based appointments are unsuitable except for foreign-trained recruits. Datuk Masiung Banah, a Sabah assemblyman, noted that while the doctor-to-population ratio has nearly reached one doctor per 400 people in Malaysia overall, future shortages of medical specialists are projected to be severe, with estimates of over 13,000 specialists potentially needed by 2030.

Local leaders emphasize the urgency of implementing state-level measures to attract and retain doctors, as the shortage has direct consequences on healthcare delivery. Parti Warisan Health Bureau chief Istefan Koh highlighted that only 34% of doctors assigned to Sabah have actually reported for duty, calling for additional incentives, housing support, and relocation assistance beyond federal efforts.

Meanwhile, the Malaysian Medical Association Sabah branch reported a significant outflow of doctors following the recent permanent placement exercise, as many left for positions on the peninsula. With only about 40% of expected doctors taking up postings, clinical departments, particularly in district hospitals, are facing severe staffing deficits. The association warned that if the trend persists, remaining medical personnel will become overburdened, potentially increasing resignation rates and further weakening the healthcare system in Sabah.

Overall, the challenges in recruiting and retaining medical professionals in Sabah and Sarawak are multifaceted, involving infrastructural, financial, and career development factors. Both government officials and medical representatives agree that comprehensive strategies are needed to address these issues to ensure the sustainability of healthcare services in the region.