Zaliha Cites Pensions as Obstacle to New Doctor Positions in Public Health Sector
During a parliamentary session in Malaysia, Dr Zaliha Mustafa, the Health Minister, identified the cost of pensions as one of the main obstacles to the creation of new permanent positions for doctors in the public health sector. The previous administration had agreed to absorb thousands of doctors into public service over a five-year period, with a total of 8,686 permanent positions to be created by 2025. However, Dr Zaliha noted that the government must bear in mind the cost of future pensions when creating permanent appointments, which cannot be done instantly.
The health workforce shortage in public hospitals and clinics across Malaysia was a central topic during the debate on the Health Ministry’s 2023 budget. MPs raised concerns about staff shortages in various levels of the health workforce in their constituencies or states. Dr Zulkafperi Hanapi, an MP for Tanjong Karang, and former Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad both spoke of multiple crises in the health service. Tuaran MP Wilfred Madius Tangau noted that the contract system has caused The Great Resignation and an all-time high of resignations among doctors in Sabah.
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During the parliamentary session, Dr Zaliha also disclosed that there are only 1.7 doctors, 1.8 dentists, and 4.6 pharmacists applying for every permanent position in the health service. Out of the 9,321 candidates applying for 4,914 permanent positions for medical, dental, and pharmacy officers this year, 7,061 applied for medical officer positions, 610 applied for dental officer positions, and 1,461 applied for pharmacy officers. However, Dr Zaliha clarified that the 4,914 vacancies were not new positions created for the public health service. Instead, they were created by the resignations of doctors and other health care professionals.
Dr Zaliha further stated that the RM2.6 billion allocated for emoluments of contract workers in the Health Ministry covers 39,091 officers across various service schemes, including doctors, dentists, pharmacists, specialist doctors, specialist dentists, research officers, science officers, optometrists, environmental health officers, nurses, assistant medical officers, and physiotherapists. The budget for the year 2023 also includes additional emoluments of about RM1.7 billion under “Dasar Baru,” covering emoluments for permanent positions of medical, dental, and pharmacy officers, as well as the creation of new positions across service.
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