KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 12 — The Health Ministry (KKM) will accelerate the recruitment and permanent appointment of nurses to fill vacancies and strengthen healthcare services.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said the measures include offering permanent positions to all nurses currently serving under the ministry.
"The ministry's priority is to ensure that public nursing services remain competitive, nurses' welfare is safeguarded, and their career prospects continue to be developed and enhanced.
"These efforts also include salary improvements under the Public Service Remuneration System (SSPA), incentives and allowances based on eligibility, as well as maintaining the 42-hour workweek for nurses working shifts," he said.
He was speaking to reporters after attending the launch of Liver Cancer Awareness Day 2026 at Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz (HCTM), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), here yesterday.
Dzulkefly said the ministry was also expanding training and promotion opportunities to improve nurses' career prospects in the public service while enabling them to develop their skills and gain further experience in nursing.
"In addition, placement flexibility has been improved through the Mutual Exchange System (P3S), which allows nurses to apply for transfers based on mutual agreement.
"Nurses are among the service groups that have benefited most from the transfer system, while recruitment processes are also being expedited to fill vacancies," he added.
In a related development, Dzulkefly said the ministry was working with the Finance Ministry to accelerate the conversion of contract pharmacists to permanent positions.
He said that as of July, 3,545 pharmacists were still serving on contract with the ministry, while another 115 were on the reserve list or awaiting permanent appointments.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, when tabling Budget 2027 last Friday, announced an allocation of RM47.7 billion for the Health Ministry, comprising RM40.95 billion for operating expenditure and RM6.75 billion for development.
The allocation also aims to strengthen the healthcare workforce by increasing the Post-Basic Incentive Payment to RM200 a month for 47,000 paramedics and nurses, while raising the Air Health Services Incentive Payment from RM30 to RM100.
