PUTRAJAYA: The era of contract doctors would come to an end by 2028, with medical officers to be absorbed into permanent positions based on service requirements, says the Health Ministry.
“For officers whose status is changed from contract to permanent, full relocation allowances will be provided from June 2026, including meal allowances and hotel or lodging expenses, travel and transportation costs for belongings, as well as relocation and miscellaneous allowances,” it said in a statement yesterday.
The move is the largest permanent appointment exercise involving 18,755 medical, pharmacy and dental officers.
This, it added, was part of 20 initiatives by the government to strengthen the welfare, career development and working environment of healthcare personnel.
Posted on social media, the statement further said civil servants’ salaries, including the starting salary for U5 nurses, were increased by 15% from January 2026, while the On-Call Duty Allowance was increased by up to 43% from October 2025.
It said the Locum Allowance rate had also been standardised at RM80 per hour, alongside the introduction of an Elective Surgery Allowance for procedures conducted outside normal working hours, Bernama reported.
Existing incentives would also continue, including critical service and post-basic incentives, as well as incentives for treating psychiatric, tuberculosis and leprosy patients.
