KUALA LUMPUR, May 7 -- Doctors and industry groups have urged the Health Ministry to review its policies on medical graduates and staff retention, after official data showed a sharp drop in housemen numbers since 2019 that could jeopardise care levels at public hospitals.

Based on the ministry's Human Resources Division, there were 6,134 housemen in 2019 but a steady decline has seen this number fall to just 3,271 last year.

Speaking to The Star, Hartal Doktor Kontrak (HDK) spokesman Dr Muhammad Yassin said this was due to the younger generation being more interested in other fields of study.

"Actually, this is a global trend where the newer generations are more inclined to non-science streams and prefer to pursue careers based on that...