Winning strategy: Dr Dzulkefly presenting the Prime Minister’s Award to Diploma in Nursing graduate Wann Nur Khalishah Amirah Wan Nazre at the Sultan Azlan Shah Health Ministry Training Institute graduation ceremony in Kuala Kangsar. — Bernama
PETALING JAYA: Offers of permanent positions for government nurses will ensure job security and curb the critical manpower crunch in the healthcare system, say stakeholders.
Malayan Nurses Union president Saaidah Athman said the move will attract the younger generation to take up nursing.
“This shows that the Health Minister cares for the welfare of healthcare workers,” she said.
Saaidah said it will also help curb the brain drain as Malaysian nurses have been migrating overseas for greener pastures.
“Job security is important to ensure that the officer feels secure and safe.
“It will also ensure they are entitled for certain leave benefits and housing loans,” she added.
Welcoming the move, Senator Dr RA Lingeshwaran said it is a historic step in strengthening the healthcare system.
He acknowledged that this would be a step to retaining nursing talent in the country.
“Nursing in the government sector offers one of the most secure careers in Malaysia,” he said, adding that it is far more secure compared with the private sector.
“As the demand for healthcare services continues to grow, permanent positions come with structured promotions and various allowances despite the possibility of transfers to different states or rural areas,” he said.
It is learnt that some nurses, including community nurses, have already received offer letters for permanent positions.
“I’m truly glad that our midwives have started receiving their long-awaited promotion e-mails with their official reporting date set for Oct 12, 2025,” Dr Lingeshwaran said.
“This is a well-deserved recognition of the dedication and sacrifices of our midwives.
“At the same time, I also congratulate the Health Minister and Health Ministry for confirming in Parliament that 2,233 midwives (community nurses) who have completed their Promotion by Appointment (KPSL) since 2020 will finally be promoted to Staff Nurse (Grade U5),” he added.
Earlier, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said that government nurses will be appointed on a permanent basis starting this year, adding that the move was to address the issue of staff shortage.
“Currently, there is a shortage of about 14,000 nurses in the sector.
“We had interim contract appointments for nursing graduates in the past but it will no longer continue starting from the 2025 intake of diploma and certificate graduates,” he told reporters after attending the Sultan Azlan Shah Health Ministry Training Institute graduation ceremony in Ipoh yesterday.
“This is an important commitment where all new recruitments will be permanent.
“Nursing staff who were previously hired under interim contracts will also be absorbed into permanent positions,” he said.
Dr Dzulkefly said as of Aug 31, there were 69,158 appointed nurses nationwide.
He said these included 651 nurses, comprising 257 from the peninsula, and 394 from Sabah and Sarawak, from this year’s batch of graduates.
Dr Dzulkefly also said Malaysian Health Ministry Training Institutes nationwide are expected to produce about 18,000 nursing graduates by 2030.
To speed up recruitment, the minister said the number of trainee nurses being recruited has been increased from 1,000 to 3,000 annually, with an allocation of RM25mil a year.
“Currently, Malaysia’s nurse-to- population ratio stands at 3.8 per 1,000 people compared with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommendation of six per 1,000 people.
“If the target is achieved, Malaysia will not only reduce the healthcare workforce gap but also move closer to the international standards set by WHO,” he said.
