Absorption Of 9,000 Contract Doctors To Strengthen Public Healthcare Capacity - MMA
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 9 (Bernama) -- The government's decision to offer permanent positions to over 9,000 contract doctors in Budget 2027 will significantly boost the capacity, continuity and delivery of public healthcare services nationwide, according to the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA).
MMA president Dr Sivanaesan Letchumanan said the milestone move, which includes guaranteeing permanent appointments for medical graduates completing housemanship, provides needed job security and career certainty for young doctors.
“This is a significant milestone and addresses one of MMA's longstanding calls. We commend the Government for taking this important step towards providing greater job security and career certainty for our young doctors.
“Permanent appointments are an important step forward, but they must be supported by a comprehensive workforce retention strategy. Ending the contract doctor system must not be the end of our efforts to strengthen the healthcare workforce,” he said in a statement today.
Dr Sivanaesan emphasised that sustaining this momentum requires addressing the country's shortage of nearly 11,000 specialists to meet the demands of an ageing population and the growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
He urged for continued investment to expand specialist training pathways, enhance career progression, and optimise workforce distribution across public healthcare facilities.
MMA also advocated for the establishment of a national healthcare workforce distribution dashboard to provide clear visibility on staffing levels and shortages across public hospitals and clinics, ensuring resources are deployed effectively.
Touching on other key aspects of Budget 2027, Dr Sivanaesan highlighted the potential of public-private collaboration, medical equipment investment and digital health initiatives to reduce patient waiting times and elevate overall healthcare standards.
“Ultimately, the success of Budget 2027 must be measured not merely by the allocations announced, but by improvements in patient care, waiting times, workforce retention and access to healthcare,” he said.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim when tabling Budget 2027 in the Dewan Rakyat today, announced an increased allocation of RM47.7 billion for the Ministry of Health compared to RM46.5 billion in 2026.
Key healthcare measures include absorbing over 9,000 contract doctors into permanent service, increasing patient outsourcing allocation to RM200 million, introducing the MediAsas scheme, providing RM1.2 billion for facility maintenance and expanding electronic medical record systems nationwide.
Meanwhile, the Malaysian Pharmacists Society (MPS) said the government should provide contract pharmacists with a clear pathway to permanent appointments, following its announcement to offer permanent positions to more than 9,000 contract doctors.
Its president Prof Amrahi Buang said the move was a significant step towards addressing longstanding employment uncertainty in the public healthcare workforce, but stressed that contract pharmacists should not be left without clarity on their career prospects.
He said contract pharmacists played essential roles in public hospitals, health clinics and Ministry of Health facilities, including in medication management, clinical pharmacy services, medication safety and antimicrobial stewardship.
“MPS supports the government's efforts to strengthen and stabilise Malaysia's healthcare workforce. However, a solution to the contract healthcare workforce issue cannot be considered complete if pharmacists facing the same employment uncertainty are left without a clear pathway forward.
“This is not a call for preferential treatment. It is a call for fairness, transparency and appropriate recognition of every healthcare profession that contributes to the delivery of public healthcare,” he said.
-- BERNAMA