2,518 medical officers quit from 2024 to June 2026
Malaysian Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad reported that over 2,500 medical officers resigned from public service between 2024 and mid-2026. He noted that only a small fraction moved abroad, attributing the broader trend to global labor mobility and personal career choices.
Why it matters
The data highlights the ongoing challenges of public healthcare retention in developing nations amidst global competition for medical talent.
The issue of brain drain involving medical officers is not unique to Malaysia but occurs throughout the world, especially among developing nations, says health minister Dzulkefly Ahmad. (Bernama pic)
PETALING JAYA: A total of 2,518 medical officers had resigned from the public healthcare service between January 2024 and June this year, says health minister Dzulkefly Ahmad.
However, Dzulkefly said, just 71 medical officers, or less than 3% of the total, resigned to work overseas.
The minister said the issue of brain drain involving medical officers is not unique to Malaysia but occurs throughout the world, especially among developing nations.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in