The Health Ministry is aware of a current backlog in housemanship placements for medical graduates at public hospitals nationwide, Dzulkefly Ahmad said today.

The minister told reporters the backlog was partly due to the mismatch between vacancies and the number of applications received.

"Regarding the oversupply of students, we have 32 medical schools, 11 of which are public and the rest are private.

"Locally we produce about 5,000 graduates yearly, notwithstanding those coming from overseas, from both recognised and unrecognised universities. 

"We are only capable of absorbing 3,400 students, hence the backlog," Dzulkefly said during a press conference in Cheras today.

Dzulkefly was asked to comment on a The Malaysian Insight report stating that some 1,200 medical graduates are still waiting to start their compulsory housemanship due to a scarcity of positions and budget cuts.

The report highlighted the plight of medical graduates unsure of their futures, and forced to take up other jobs while awaiting placement.

Medical graduates are required to undergo the housemanship programme – which typically lasts two years – in order to attain medical officer status. 

According to Dzulkefly, he had previously announced in Parliament a special fast-track programme for qualified candidates to complete their housemanship in 18 months as a temporary measure. 

"So this will shorten the time and allow others to come in," he said.

Dzulkefly noted that another factor contributing to the limited vacancies was a failure rate of about 15 percent in every finishing group, hampering others who are due to start the programme.

As for graduates of medical schools not recognised by the government, Dzulkefly reiterated that they would have to sit for a qualifying exam conducted by the Malaysian Medical Council before being allowed to undergo housemanship training.

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