SHAH ALAM: The Health Ministry has submitted approximately 2,000 to 3,000 contract nurse applications to be absorbed into permanent positions this year.
Deputy Health Minister Lukanisman Awang Sauni (pic) said all the applications were submitted to the Public Service Department (JPA) for approval.
However, he said, the number of applications that would be accepted for the permanent position was entirely dependent on the decision of JPA.
He said the Health Ministry had a need to increase the number of existing nurses which had so far reached 165,000 people, taking into account the building of many new health facilities including hospitals and health clinics including in rural areas.
"Following that, we have applied to JPA for additional contract nurses to be absorbed into permanent positions," he said after launching International Nurses Day 2023 at the Setia City Convention Centre (SCCC), Setia Alam here on Friday (May 12), which was attended by more than 2,000 nurses from all over country.
Lukanisman said that the duties of nurses indeed require continuous improvement, including the issue of staffing, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic that has hit the country.
"The recruitment of contract nurses has been considered by MOH to be absorbed in phases if the additional appeal is approved. We are also doing a mapping process to optimise staff services whether doctors, nurses and medical officers," he said. - Bernama
