KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 11 — The government will create 4,500 additional permanent posts for contract doctors, bringing the total to 9,000 by 2027, in a move to address longstanding concerns over their employment status.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said the measure aims to address the issue in a more systematic manner, after it had persisted for a decade since 2016.
“However, this permanent post offer applies only to contract doctors, and does not extend to pharmacy or dental officers,” he told reporters after attending the launching ceremony of Liver Cancer Awareness Day 2026 at Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz (HCTM), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) here today.
Dr Dzulkefly said implementation strategies and funding allocations would be discussed immediately to ensure the measure could be implemented as soon as possible.
He said these discussions are important to determine suitable implementation methods, including the process of absorbing contract doctors into permanent positions in line with the agreed strategy.
“Implementation will be carried out in stages based on determined cohorts, and details regarding the groups involved will be announced once the relevant discussions are concluded.
“The government will ensure that implementation is carried out based on the agreed strategies and available allocations, as announced during the recent Budget 2027 tabling.”
On Friday, when tabling Budget 2027, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced that 9,000 contract doctors would be offered permanent positions next year.
He said doctors who successfully complete their postgraduate training moving forward would be offered permanent positions as medical officers to ensure greater career security within the healthcare system.
