PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has announced that more than 4,000 positions for government doctors, including contract medical officers, will be available this year.
Addressing the nation during a special announcement broadcast on national television on Wednesday (July 23), Anwar highlighted the critical need for doctors in the healthcare sector.
"There are concerns over certain positions that are important for the people. For example, the shortage of doctors," he stated.
To improve service delivery, Anwar confirmed that 4,352 new doctors, including those on contract, will be hired this year.
Hospitals and government healthcare facilities continued to grapple with shortage of doctors.
According to projections released in 2023 by Dr Hirman Ismail, deputy director of the Health Ministry’s medical development division, the public healthcare sector would require 63,040 doctors by 2025 and 79,931 by 2030.
As of last year, there were nearly 52,000 doctors employed in government service.
