SG BULOH – A total of 1,085 healthcare assistants will be absorbed into permanent positions by January 2023 to fill some of the 2,456 vacancies available throughout the country.
Caretaker health minister Khairy Jamaluddin said the appointments cover the healthcare assistants’ Short-Term Employment Programme (MyStep) with contract status that are given equal opportunities.
“We will confirm the appointments next January and fill the remaining healthcare assistant posts in the second quarter of 2023,” he said at the Sg Buloh Hospital-level Healthcare Assistants’ Day celebration here today.
MyStep is a RM700 million government initiative to create 50,000 contract job opportunities in various ministries, public agencies and government-linked companies (GLC).
Khairy said some 100 candidates will be also given offers for admission as early as December.
He said the appointments to some extent can lessen the burden of doctors and nurses who are tasked with various duties.
In the 1960s, healthcare assistants were known as “amah” before being changed to “attendant” in the 1980s and officially changed to healthcare assistants, or also commonly known as Pembantu Perawatan Kesihatan or PPK in 2007. Their duties include helping to carry out basic work regarding patient care, equipment, and recording patient data.
In addition to staffing, Khairy said the Health Ministry will also look at issues pertaining to posts with acting status and promotions from time to time. – Bernama, November 3, 2022
