KUALA LUMPUR: The Health Ministry will offer the 9,000 permanent positions for doctors throughout 2027 to ensure a smooth transition away from the interim contract system, says Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.
The Health Minister said the appointments would be implemented in stages, taking into account the requirements of different batches and cohorts of doctors.
“The process will take some time, as we need to ensure that the requirements are met and take into account the different batches and cohorts of doctors,” he said after the tabling of Budget 2027 in the Dewan Rakyat on Friday (Oct 9).
He said the ministry intended to complete the process next year through a more innovative approach to expedite appointments.
Dzulkefly said workforce planning and the development of medical specialists would also be better coordinated between the Health Ministry, Higher Education Ministry, Public Service Department and Public Services Commission.
He said the ministry had received RM40.95bil in operating expenditure and RM6.75bil in development expenditure under Budget 2027, both higher than the previous year’s allocations.
“Despite facing fiscal constraints and other challenges, a very substantial allocation has been provided to enable us to continue our healthcare reform efforts.
“To this, I must express my heartfelt thanks, on behalf of the entire Health Ministry, to the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister II,” he said.
On healthcare personnel, Dzulkefly also praised the post-basic incentive for about 47,000 nurses and paramedics that would increase from RM100 to RM200.
The Flying Doctor Service allowance would also rise from RM30,000 to RM100,000 to support healthcare delivery in remote areas.
“The allowance is only one aspect of our efforts. We want to strengthen universal health coverage (UHC), based on the principle of leaving no one behind.
“We will continue to improve our approaches to delivering healthcare by land, air and water, including river transport,” he said.
On the haze situation, he said healthcare facilities were managing the increase in cases and were not overwhelmed.
He advised the public to minimise unnecessary outdoor activities and exposure, particularly among children and older people, who may be more vulnerable to the effects of haze.
The ministry would continue providing updates on the situation, he added.
