SHAH ALAM, Mar 12 – Malaysia is witnessing a sharp decline in the number of medical graduates entering housemanship training, with intake dropping by nearly half over the past six years.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad revealed that the number of trainee doctors fell from 6,179 in 2019 to 3,294 in 2025.
He said that 206 house officers resigned between 2024 and 2025, citing multiple factors, including personal reasons, further studies, migration abroad, and health issues.
“The main causes of resignation are multifactorial, including personal issues such as family problems, those not ready to undergo housemanship, or those interested in pursuing other fields,” he said during the question-and-answer session in the Dewan Negara today.
Dr Dzulkefly added that during housemanship, trainees undergo five mandatory postings in medicine, surgery, obstetrics and gynaecology, paediatrics, and orthopaedics, as well as one elective posting.
48 hospitals are accredited as housemanship training centres, including 45 Health Ministry (MOH) hospitals and three university hospitals, with selected facilities requiring a sufficient case mix to expose trainees to various diseases and procedures.
Housemanship refers to the two-year training period in government hospitals before doctors can obtain full registration with the Malaysian Medical Council (MMC).
Responding to a suggestion to shorten housemanship to one year, he said the matter is being considered, but it must balance training quality with growing medico-legal pressures and competence requirements.
“The matter is still under consideration. At this stage, given the drastic reduction in the supply of doctors entering the system, I am inclined towards reintroducing a one-year housemanship, but we must address several other factors first,” Dr Dzukefly said.
He noted that resolving the shortage of medical trainees requires a whole-of-government approach involving the MOH, the Higher Education Ministry (MOHE), and the Finance Ministry (MOF).
In response to concerns about bullying and toxic culture raised by senators, the minister said the MOH would not tolerate harassment or abuse in hospitals.
“Every member of the MOH deserves to work in a professional, safe, and dignified environment. We cannot treat the public with compassion if the system itself fails to show compassion to our own staff,” Dr Dzulkefly said.
All complaints must be investigated immediately without compromise or protection for any individual, and hospital directors and department heads are responsible for ensuring a fair and harmonious workplace.
He said that disciplinary actions have been taken in the past, including the dismissal of a department head after investigations confirmed serious misconduct.
