Wooing M'sian docs overseas

KUALA LUMPUR - MALAYSIAN doctors who have worked overseas for more than 10 years will soon no longer be required to serve in government hospitals when they return to Malaysia.

The announcement by Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai yesterday is the latest in a series of government moves aimed at encouraging Malaysian talent to return.

But the new ruling applies only to those whose overseas studies were not funded by the government, Datuk Seri Liow said.

Asked if the ruling was relaxed because of the reluctance of Malaysian doctors to return home, Mr Liow said that the number of locally trained doctors had gone up, leading to government hospitals being better staffed. But there's still a shortage of doctors in private hospitals.

Many opportunities await these Malaysian doctors returning from overseas.

'A lot of private hospitals are interested in employing them, and the government is willing to accept them if they want to serve us,' Mr Liow said.