PUTRAJAYA – The Health Ministry (MoH) has obtained approval from the Finance Ministry to recruit 8,302 contract healthcare workers via an initiative to optimise the use of human resources to address the Covid-19 pandemic in the country.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba said the contract healthcare workers hired as of last month include 82 science officers, 4,472 nurses, 2,249 assistant medical officers, 666 medical laboratory technologists, 340 assistant environmental officers and 293 diagnostic X-Ray technicians.
“The recruitment includes the Finance Ministry approval to extend the services of 200 counsellors, who provide counselling services and mental health support to clients at health clinics nationwide.”
He said the government has also agreed to approve another one-year contract extension for 3,622 medical and dental officers, as well as pharmacists, with an emolument cost of RM 289.69 million.
“Officers involved will be notified of their contract renewal before their contract ends.”
MoH has appointed 3,042 MySTEP personnel to assist in non-clinical tasks at the ministry’s health facilities and institutions, he added.
Based on the current Covid-19 infection situation in several states, MoH has implemented internal mobilisation of healthcare workers, involving various service schemes, such as clinical physicians, public health physicians, medical officers, science officers, assistant medical officers and nurses.
Dr Adham said 648 healthcare workers have been mobilised to Sarawak, while another 366 have been sent to Kelantan from April 26.
“Initiatives like this will be continued from time to time based on critical needs in certain states, while ensuring that the existing needs in other states are not affected.” – Bernama, May 4, 2021
