http://health.asiaone.com/Health/News/Story/A1Story20100413-210015.html

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - There will be no more mandatory three-year stint in government hospitals for Malaysian doctors who have been working overseas for more than 10 years, said the health minister.

The cabinet made the ruling last week following a proposal from the Health Ministry. It will be carried out once it is endorsed by the Malaysian Medical Council.

Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said with the ruling, all doctors, regardless of whether they are general physicians or specialists who have served more than 10 years in hospitals overseas, could return home and serve in government or private hospitals.

Now, only specialists 45 years and above working overseas need not serve in government hospitals when they return home.

Only 100-odd specialists have returned to Malaysia from overseas to work in private hospitals or set up their clinics and medical centres.

Liow, however, said that doctors who had fewer than 10 years' experience and working overseas must comply with the three-year service in government hospitals when they return.

"It's important that these doctors gain experience," he said, adding that the nation needed experienced doctors to overcome a shortage of doctors, especially with health tourism in Malaysia gaining importance.

"We are advancing. Malaysia is seen as a strong and practical alternative for more affordable medical treatments," said Liow after the launch of Healthcare Tourism Congress 2010 themed "Malaysia: World Top Notch Care Provider" at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre yesterday.

Liow said healthcare travel or medical tourism was recognised as a foreign exchange earner. Some have projected a growth of 15 per cent per annum from S$41 billion in 2005 to S$55 billion this year.

Industry projections also indicate that total revenue from healthcare travel for the key players in Asia -- India, Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia -- will grow from US$2.5 billion (S$3.48 billion) in 2006 to US$4.4 billion (S$6.13 billion) in 2012.

In Malaysia, private hospitals' revenue grew from S$25.5 million with around 103,000 medical tourists in 2003 to S$129 million in 2008 with about 374,000 medical tourists.

Liow said the ministry was looking into liberalising advertisements to promote healthcare facilities in Malaysia. "I have directed the director-general of health to look into it."

He said the medical tourism industry needed to be expanded and made known worldwide to help Malaysia become a high-income nation