For many Malaysians, becoming a doctor is still viewed as one of the most respected and financially stable careers in the country. But behind the white coats, a growing number of doctors are now turning to e-hailing, locum work, and personal loans simply to survive financially and keep their clinics running.
Some are driving for e-hailing platforms after clinic hours. Others are borrowing money just to cover monthly operational costs.
A few are even considering leaving the medical profession entirely.
The situation has become increasingly worrying among General Practitioners (GPs) who opened private clinics after leaving government service, only to discover that running a clinic today comes with mounting financial pressure.
According to findings by the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA), more than 70% of private GP clinics in Malaysia are currently struggling to stay afloat due to rising operational costs and declining patient numbers.
Doctors Say Their Clinics Are Entering A “Struggling Phase”
One of the doctors facing this reality is Dr Luqman, 33, who opened his own clinic in Sepang in 2022 after leaving the public healthcare sector.
He admitted that there are months where the clinic records negative net income despite operating daily.
“I decided to leave the public health sector in 2022 because I felt my career with the ministry was not secure, and the workload was overwhelming, before deciding to open my own clinic in Sepang,” he said.
“What I can say so far is that my clinic is in a struggling phase. I am still looking for the best way to survive due to rising costs every year, while on the other hand, earnings have decreased.”
“At times, the income is even negative. I need RM35,000 to RM40,000 a month. It means we need 10 to 15 patients a day,” he added.
According to Dr Luqman, the financial pressure comes from multiple directions at once.
Medicine prices continue rising every year, while the implementation of the new minimum wage has increased staffing costs. At the same time, many clinics are not seeing enough patient traffic to balance those expenses.
To survive, he said he was forced to take out personal loans to cover clinic operational costs.
Doctors By Day, E-Hailing Drivers By Night
Dr Luqman also revealed that he now drives for e-hailing services and works as a locum doctor at other clinics to supplement his income.
The image of a doctor spending nights picking up passengers after clinic hours has shocked many Malaysians online, especially because doctors are often assumed to earn comfortably.
But for many young clinic owners, doing side jobs has become part of the reality of trying to sustain private clinics in today’s economic climate.
“GPs do not operate just to make a profit, and we are not second-class doctors, but instead are the backbone and are ready to help and empower the health service system,” he said.
He also admitted that if conditions do not improve, he may eventually leave the profession entirely.
“If there is no government intervention to help empower private clinics, I expect to need an exit plan,” he added.
According to him, his backup plan may involve moving into the insurance or sales industry instead of continuing medical practice.
Many Private Clinics Are Barely Surviving
Another GP, Dr Jay Chay, shared a similar experience after leaving government service in June last year due to poor work-life balance.
He later entered a joint venture to open a private clinic where he owns a 49% stake.
However, he said operating the clinic has proven far harder than expected.
According to Dr Jay, the clinic’s income usually covers only around 60% of total operating costs, highlighting how difficult it has become for many independent clinics to survive.
He also pointed out another growing problem: many patients now purchase medicines online instead of directly from clinics.
“I also face a problem when most patients who come prefer to bring their own medication bought through social media, which does not have Health Ministry approval,” he said.
This trend has further reduced clinic revenue, especially for independent GP clinics that rely heavily on medication sales and consultations to sustain operations.
Struggling To Stay Afloat
The financial pressure faced by doctors like Dr Luqman and Dr Jay is not an isolated issue.
A nationwide MMA study involving nearly 2,000 clinics found that more than 70% of private GP clinics earn below RM60,000 monthly, making it increasingly difficult for many to continue operating sustainably.
According to MMA president Datuk Dr R. Thirunavukarasu, around 21.1% of clinics earn less than RM20,000 monthly, while 32.4% generate between RM20,000 and RM39,999.
Only a small percentage are considered financially comfortable.
Healthcare observers warn that if financial pressures continue rising, Malaysia could eventually face a wave of private clinic closures, especially in suburban and community areas where GPs serve as the first line of healthcare access.
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