KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Dental Association (MDA) urges the government and the Health Ministry to give contract dental officers the same consideration as other healthcare professionals concerning permanent appointments as announced under Budget 2027.
MDA president Dr Chong Zhen Feng said dental officers on contract should receive similar consideration in recognition of their contributions to the country's public healthcare system, as some dental officers' contracts expired without renewal, with subsequent cohorts facing similar circumstances.
"This resulted in trained dental professionals leaving the public healthcare system despite having completed their service and gained valuable clinical experience," he said in a statement Monday (Oct 12).
He said MDA's concern is not only over the career prospects of young dental professionals but also over the sustainability and continuity of public oral healthcare services.
According to Dr Chong, dental officers play an essential role in providing preventive and clinical oral healthcare, particularly to schoolchildren, underserved communities and Malaysians who rely on public dental facilities.
Dr Chong said all healthcare professionals deserve fair consideration, transparent career pathways and recognition of their contributions to the national healthcare system.
"Oral healthcare must remain an integral part of Malaysia's broader healthcare workforce planning," he said.
In this regard, he urged the government to review the status of affected contract dental officers and consider appropriate opportunities for permanent appointments, alongside a sustainable workforce strategy to prevent further loss of trained dental professionals from the public sector.
He said investment in training and developing dental professionals should not be overlooked, as their experience and commitment represent valuable national healthcare resources that should be retained wherever possible.
In April last year, MDA issued a statement calling for timely intervention ahead of the impending expiry of contracts for dental officers from the 2021 cohort.
Under Budget 2027, tabled by Prime Minister and Finance Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Friday (Oct 9), the government announced it will offer permanent positions to more than 9,000 contract medical officers next year. - Bernama
