Sabah is short of nearly 245 medical officers, and Ranau Hospital feels it most

First Published: Saturday, 31 Oct 2026 5:10 PM MYT

KOTA KINABALU, Oct 31 — Sabah is facing a shortage of nearly 245 medical officers following the implementation of the Phase 2 Permanent Appointment exercise on September 28, with Ranau Hospital among the healthcare facilities affected by the transfer of existing medical officers.

The Sabah State Health Department (Sabah JKN) said the shortage was partly due to 67 per cent of replacement candidates from outside Sabah failed to report for duty after accepting offers of permanent appointment, hindering efforts to fill vacancies in the state.

Ranau Hospital is currently operating with only nine medical officers, including the hospital director, after 11 of its 19 medical officers were transferred out under the exercise.

“Although the Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH) identified seven replacement officers from outside Sabah, only one has reported for duty,” the department said in a statement today.

It said the situation at Ranau Hospital reflected a broader shortage of medical officers across Sabah, with several other healthcare facilities facing similar challenges.

As an immediate measure, Sabah JKN will deploy three temporary relief medical officers, or ‘floater’ officers, to Ranau Hospital in stages, beginning on October 28 and November 11.

Meanwhile, the MOH will conduct a special permanent appointment exercise for Grade UD10 medical officers to meet the staffing needs of healthcare services in Sabah and Sarawak.

Sabah JKN said the placement of medical officers under the special exercise, with reporting for duty, was expected to begin as early as February 2027.

The department reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring the continuity of essential medical services while taking proactive measures to address the shortage of medical officers in the state. — Bernama

* Editor’s note: JKN stands for Jabatan Kesihatan Negeri in Malay.