Public healthcare in Malaysia is understaffed – yet ministry is still not hiring permanent staff

AFP Relaxnews

I REFER to the letter “Case for absorbing contract doctors as permanent staff” by Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye (The Star, Jan 14).

I am impressed that this issue was brought up by such a towering figure in our society. The initial part of his letter is rather thought provoking: “Last year, a total of 55,981 medical officers held permanent positions in the Health Ministry while another 23,096 were on contract. So if the government could support 79,077 medical officers in that year (2022), why can’t it continue to support this number as permanent staff with a slightly higher budget?