[UPDATED] Cabinet green-lights 4,186 more permanent posts in Health Ministry

KUALA LUMPUR – The cabinet has agreed to create an additional 4,186 permanent posts in the Health Ministry for 2022, said Khairy Jamaluddin.

The health minister said this will involve 3,586 medical officers, 300 dentistry officers, and 300 pharmaceutical officers.

He said the additional posts would be offered starting June.

During a press conference today, Khairy said the cabinet also agreed to add 1,500 of the permanent posts annually, beginning 2023 until 2025.

He added the cabinet had allowed the creation of posts for 800 medical and 70 dentistry permanent staff to meet the demands of facilities under the ministry.

“Through these new decisions, at least 8,686 additional permanent posts involving medical, dentistry and pharmaceutical staff will be created within the period between 2022 until 2025.”

“Additionally, 800 more permanent posts for medical officers and 70 posts for dentistry officers can be made each year to fill in vacancies left by medical officers who have been appointed specialists.”

Khairy said the cabinet has agreed with the ministry roadmap to find short, medium and long-term solutions on the appointment of contract doctors.

He added that this includes the formation of the Medical Graduate and the Dentistry Graduate technical task forces to optimise capacity in offering programmes and graduate quality.

Khairy said the cabinet’s decision on July 14 last year to extend contracts of doctors for another four years upon completion of their initial mandatory service did not solve the root problem of creating more permanent posts.

“In the long term, the stability of the health system may be affected and cannot create the guarantee of jobs at the ministry.”

He also said this also includes the evaluation and updating of the second charter of the Medical Act (1971), the implementation of professional examinations for graduate competency and quality, as well as the consolidation of the country’s specialist training programmes. – The Vibes, February 10, 2022