KOTA KINABALU: Oct 1, 2026 – The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) Sabah Branch has raised alarm over a critical shortage of doctors in the state, revealing that only about 34 per cent of medical officers expected from outside Sabah have reported for duty.
Describing the situation as “deeply concerning,” MMA Sabah said that of 138 medical officers slated for hospital postings across the state, only 47 had reported for duty at the time the data was compiled.
The branch also disclosed that most hospitals affected by the latest movement of medical officers experienced a net loss rather than a gain in staff.
“The recent large number of medical officers who did not take up postings in Sabah should be regarded as a serious warning,” MMA Sabah chairman Dr Brandon Patrick Senagang said in a statement today.
He noted that doctors were now willing to give up permanent appointments – long sought after by contract doctors for career security – rather than accept a posting to Sabah, and urged the Health Ministry (KKM) to publish and verify complete reporting figures across the state.
MMA Sabah also warned that the doctors who remain are carrying an unsustainable burden, with some departments requiring medical officers to perform every-other-day calls due to insufficient staff to maintain rosters.
“This is not sustainable. We cannot solve a manpower shortage by continuously asking the doctors who remain to work more,” Dr Brandon said.
He warned that the attrition risks creating a vicious cycle of understaffing, exhaustion, burnout and further attrition, with patients ultimately bearing the consequences through longer waits, delayed treatment and reduced capacity to maintain services safely.
MMA Sabah expressed full support for the measures proposed by MMA President Dr Sivanaesan Letchumanan, including restoring the percentage-based Regional Incentive Payment (BIW), strengthening incentives specifically for service in Sabah and Sarawak, improving relocation assistance, providing greater certainty regarding the duration of East Malaysia postings, improving staff accommodation and infrastructure, and recognising service in underserved areas through career and postgraduate opportunities.
While urging the Federal Government to give these national-level reforms serious consideration, particularly with Budget 2027 approaching, MMA Sabah stressed that addressing Sabah’s doctor shortage cannot be the Federal Government’s responsibility alone.
The branch proposed five areas where the Sabah State Government can make a meaningful difference, starting with making staff accommodation a healthcare infrastructure priority – particularly in rural districts where doctors struggle to find housing close to their facilities.
It also called on the state to consider Sabah-specific supplementary incentives such as accommodation support, transport assistance and targeted incentives for underserved districts; invest in living conditions surrounding rural health facilities, including reliable water, electricity, road access, internet connectivity and safe transportation; build a stronger pipeline of Sabah doctors through scholarships and specialist training programmes; and establish a structured Federal-State partnership platform to regularly review manpower shortages and identify facilities at greatest risk.
“Permanent appointments are important, but the current situation demonstrates that permanency alone is not enough. A position that exists on an organisational chart means little if nobody is willing to fill it,” Dr Brandon said.
“A permanent position that no doctor accepts does not treat a patient. A staffing establishment that exists only on paper does not run a hospital.”
He added that Sabah needs doctors physically on the ground, adequately supported and working under safe and reasonable conditions, with opportunities for professional progression and reasons to stay.
“The warning signs are already in front of us. We should not wait for healthcare services to fail before recognising the seriousness of the problem,” he said.
“Sabah’s doctor shortage is reaching breaking point. Action must come before the breaking point becomes a breakdown.”
