KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 4,053 applications for permanent positions in the public healthcare service have been approved, says Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.
He added the number of approvals were the highest since the contract position model was introduced in 2016.
The approved applications consist of 3,215 medical officers, 438 dental officers, 400 pharmacists and the remaining 225 are reserved.
"Moving forward, the government is committed to ensure at least 1,500 new permanent positions in public healthcare annually," he told the media after the Health Policy Summit 2022 policy dialogue at the World Trade Centre, Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday (Aug 16).
In total, the ministry received 8,672 applications for the permanent positions in the public healthcare sector, he added.
Khairy added the ministry was in talks with the Public Service Commission (SPA) to consider allowing candidates who did not get permanent positions to reapply the following year.
"In my opinion, we should give them another chance," he added.
He also said the ministry would ensure contract doctors receive better incentives while allowing them to continue specialist or sub-specialist training if they failed to secure permanent positions.
"The ministry will look at the possibilities after discussing it with the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA)," he added.
Khairy was speaking while on the panel at the summit’s policy dialogue entitled “The Future of Our Healthcare” that discusses key areas for health and healthcare reform.
Also present at the policy dialogue were former health minister Tan Sri Dr S. Subramaniam, Sunway Centre for Planetary Health executive director Tan Sri Prof Dr Jemilah Mahmood and Axiata Group chairman Tan Sri Shahril Ridza Ridzuan, who joined on a virtual platform.
