Are We Overworking Our Doctors?

In recent years, public comments have warned about the increasing workload that Malaysian doctors have to grapple with. When an anesthesiologist died in a car accident while driving home from hospital duty, her death was associated with fatigue from work. On the other hand, the medical faculty has also raised concerns that Malaysia is training too many doctors. How do we concile these contradictory observations? And more importantly, are we overworking our doctors? The former Director-General of Ministry of Health, Tan Sri Ismail Merican, and President of the Malaysian Medical Association, Dr Ashok Philip, shed light on the issue.