Easier for MOs in rural areas to further studies

When I was browsing Malaysian Medicine (in my link), I read an old news dated June 2006: 

Medical officers serving in rural areas would find it easier to go for post-graduate studies under incentives being considered by the government for officers posted to rural areas, the Dewan Rakyat was told Wednesday.
“We may give additional merit points for medical officers serving in rural areas who wish to further their studies,” said Deputy Minister of Health Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad.
Replying to Raime Unggi (BN-Tenom), he said medical officers should discard the perception that it was difficult to live in the rural areas because the facilities there were being upgraded to match those in the urban areas.
Dr Abdul Latiff said the government was targeting a 1:600 ratio of medical officers to patients by 2015.

Fine. Good enough, it’s in the news. But how can we be sure these people keep their words when there are so many more promises they didn’t realize? If you are really an ambitious doctor, unless you’ve got a signed black and white that you’ll be posted rural only for a 2-3 years, don’t fall for the offer.

The officer in some health admin office who promised you that you’ll be posted rural for only 2 years prior to postgraduate studies should have signed black and white. Verbal promise is not usually well kept. The officer maybe promoted elsewhere when you try to reach him/her after you finished 2 years of rural posting and you’ll be staying rural forever…. or they’re just messing with your minds and end up saying after your 2 years: “Saya tak pernah cakap macam tu pun!”

Well, my opinion sounds like a very emotional negative one. I advise you to get a second opinion from MOs who are posted rural; ask them how long have they been there. Of course, some people find rural posting very rewarding and satisfying, and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that.

On another news:

 Malaysian doctors take longer to become specialists than their counterparts in Britain and other western countries.
A local doctor said it would take at least eight years for a fresh medical graduate working in hospitals here to become a specialist and earn a U48 pay under the Public Services Department salary scheme.
“Doctors serving in Britain or elsewhere can qualify as specialists in two-third the time.”
He said that under local requirements, doctors have to wait at least three years after completing their one-year housemanship before they could take up the specialist course.
“They would take at least four years to complete the course. However, the doctor will have to wait for his qualification to be gazetted by the local medical authorities before he can enjoy the specialist pay.”

The news dated May 2006. Now I think it’s gonna be 9 years since housemanship has been extended to 2 years. Meaning almost 10 years before a medical graduate can enjoy specialist pay (9 years training + x months of gazettement). Hmm…