PRIME MINISTER Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is expected to announce developments on the proposed establishment of a Health Services Commission in the near future, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said.
He said the government would provide an update on the proposal, which is intended to cover key personnel matters in the health service.
“As I have said before the tabling of Budget 2027, we will wait a little longer. The Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, will announce it. That is all I can share for now,” he told reporters after launching the National Liver Health Initiative Roadmap 2026–2030 at Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, today.
In September, former health minister Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa said the proposed commission was among the key matters being considered in the final draft of the Health White Paper.
Its proposed functions include overseeing appointments, confirmation of service, promotions, transfers and disciplinary proceedings.
Separately, Dzulkefly said the Health Ministry would accelerate the absorption of contract pharmacists into permanent posts, with 3,545 still serving on contract as of July and another 115 awaiting permanent appointments.
“The process is still ongoing, and I personally want to make a commitment to accelerate their absorption into permanent service,” he said, without specifying the number of appointments or a completion date.
He also confirmed that all nurses in the public health service had been offered permanent positions, with none remaining on contract.
Dzulkefly clarified that the government’s target of absorbing 9,000 contract medical officers into permanent posts by the end of 2027 applied only to doctors, excluding pharmacists and nurses.
The ministry is still refining the implementation mechanism, including how the groups of medical officers to be appointed will be determined. The target doubles the previous goal of appointing an average of 4,500 contract medical officers to permanent positions.
Separately, the ministry has doubled the monthly post-basic allowance for nurses from RM100 to RM200 to improve staff welfare and retain nursing personnel in the public healthcare system.
“The ministry’s priority is to ensure that public nursing services remain competitive, that nurses’ welfare is protected, and that their career prospects continue to be developed and strengthened,” he said.
Other measures include salary improvements under the Public Service Remuneration System (SSPA), eligible incentives and allowances, and maintaining a 42-hour working week for nurses on shift duty.
The ministry is also expanding training and promotion opportunities and introducing greater flexibility in placements through mutual-consent transfer arrangements, allowing nurses to request transfers by agreement.
Dzulkefly said faster recruitment to fill vacancies, alongside continued attention to staff welfare and career development, was essential to retaining healthcare workers in the public sector. - October 11, 2026
