The Malaysian Star reported that there was a huge shortage of specialist doctors in rural Malaysia and the government was planning to import doctors from several Asian countries including Sri Lanka. The Malaysian Health Ministry is currently negotiating with its counterparts in Egypt, India and Sri Lanka to source a pool of specialist doctors, the report said.

Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said Saturday that it would be a government-to-government arrangement.

Egypt had sent a list of 58 specialists but the recent turmoil in that country had put the matter on hold. It would be revisited once the situation normalises, he said.

Liow said he would be visiting India in March and the list from that country would be finalised then.