Many University of Malaya Medical Graduates Migrate to Singapore
A new study reveals that approximately 27 percent of medical graduates from the University of Malaya (UM) who have completed their studies since 2018 now hold active registrations in Singapore. This figure involves 314 doctors who have chosen to register with the Singapore Medical Council.
This phenomenon raises concerns regarding the issue of 'brain drain' in the country's health sector. Many experts believe that more competitive salary offers and better career opportunities in the neighboring country are the main factors why young Malaysian doctors choose to serve there.
Furthermore, more than 10 percent of these graduates have completed the full registration process with Singapore's health authorities. This situation indicates that a significant portion of the medical workforce trained with Malaysian government subsidies ends up contributing to another country's health system.
This issue demands serious attention from local authorities to re-evaluate the welfare and career prospects of doctors in Malaysia. Improvement measures must be taken immediately to ensure that the country's best talents continue to serve the Malaysian people and to reduce reliance on foreign labor.