LETTER | I speak as a concerned citizen as well as an individual who works in the Ministry of Health, Malaysia, as a Doctor. I read my medical degree in a local private medical university in Malaysia. I was not as fortunate to attain a JPA scholarship for the funding of my medical degree despite fulfilling the prerequisites.

This was primarily due to the tense competition amongst other applicants amidst the limited number of scholarship seats provided. Nevertheless, I was still able to pursue my ambition with aid of a PTPTN loan to which I am a prompt paymaster.

In my formal years as a medical student, I did have the opportunity to meet other individuals who were reading their medical degree under the sponsorship of JPA. To my surprise, a good proportion of these individuals have defaulted on their bonds and decided to work as a doctor overseas (e.g. in UK and Australia).

The average cost of studying overseas as a doctor could easily amount up to RM1 million ringgit. When asked on the matter of their defaulting, these individuals were of able to rebut. Here are a few examples of their rebuttals:

1. Many students have done this since before time and no action was taken. They were eventually let off the hook.

2. We will work here until we receive a letter summoning us to come back and serve out our bond. If the letter never comes, we will continue to be comfortable here (overseas).

3. I have the financial capability to pay back if summoned to do so, therefore I am not worried about the bond (Which brings us to the question of why they have gotten the scholarship in the first place.)

4. The waiting period for the commencement of housemanship (internship) is rather long. A good option will be to work here while waiting.

5. Get registered as a member of the Medical Council of Malaysia and proceed with the formal application process upon completion of studies.

Once eligible for the e-houseman placement, keep postponing it. This buys an individual more time to work for a longer period of time overseas.

As of now, it is evident that we have quite a number of medical graduates who have defaulted on their JPA scholarship bonds upon completion of their undergraduate degrees. I wouldn't be surprised if the numbers come up to a few hundred or even a thousand of them.

Just imagine if each of their tertiary education cost the taxpayer RM1 million ringgit - do the maths for a thousand of them! They have become a liability and needless to say that the taxpayers are on the losing end.

I urge that the relevant authorities look into this dilemma and resolve it at the soonest. Our country woke up to a new beginning with so much of hope. Our country is already in a considerable amount of debt and each of us should play a part to serve our country after what it has done for us. Just sheer gratitude that we ask of them, nothing else.

On a side note, our health minister in office, Dzulkefly Ahmad also spoke of wanting to lower the doctor-patient ratio to 1:400 from the current 1:600 so that more focus and quality healthcare can be provided for each patient.

Looking into this matter is one way of achieving that goal. Killing two birds with one stone. These are the sentiments of a concerned citizen of Malaysia.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.