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OUR public healthcare system has delivered utmost care across geography and income levels, and trained generations of capable doctors and specialists.

But, each day we are being reminded of the doctor shortage in the public sector, especially among the much-needed specialists.

If we do not have enough doctors in the system today, who will become the specialists for tomorrow?

In this evolving era, the rapid expansion of private hospitals across Malaysia reflects strong market demand and economic progress. 

However, these circumstances strongly contribute to a structural imbalance that we tend to overlook.

The private sector benefits most from the finished products produced by the public sector, which is responsible for providing a good quality of training, though at a high cost.

This is believed to be unsustainable and is also one of the factors newly qualified specialists are leaving public service earlier than expected.

If the cycle of this business prolongs, the public system is at risk of becoming a revolving door.

Each departure of a trained specialist from public service further deepens the workforce gap year after year.

The solution is not merely by increasing training numbers within already stretched tertiary hospitals, but we need a solid structural reform.

Specialist training must expand beyond a handful of major centre areas.

High-performing regional hospitals, be they public or private, should be accredited as training sites under rigorous national standards.

The existence and usage of digital logbooks, tele-supervision, and competency-based assessments now make distributed training both feasible and safe.

Private hospitals must make a progressive move from being passive recipients to active partners in training doctors.

With the accessibility of modern facilities, advanced technology, and significant patient volumes, they could have the capacity to contribute meaningfully to national workforce development.

Shared training posts, co-supervision models, and regulatory incentives tied to training participation should be considered.

Aside from that, we must prepare for a future shaped by advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics, genomics, and fully digitalised health systems, which will redefine specialist roles.

Our future specialists are not simply procedural performing individuals, but they are bound to lead a complex system of care, interpret vast data streams, and make high-stakes decisions supported by these intelligent tools.

Thus, specialist training must evolve in accordance with the evolution of our advancement.

Simulation centres, virtual reality platforms, and competency-based progression are no longer optional enhancements for consideration, but are essential infrastructure for the usage of modern medicine.

Without clear career pathways, professional development opportunities, and meaningful recognition, early-career specialists will cease.

Training must be accompanied by effective retention strategies to ensure long-term impact.

Prof Datuk Dr Hanafiah Harunarashid

Master

Academy of Medicine of Malaysia

The views expressed here are the views of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of the Daily Express. If you have something to share, write to us at: Forum@dailyexpress.com.my