Experts urge better working conditions as government offers permanent posts to contract doctors

The upcoming 2027 budget in Malaysia includes a plan to grant permanent positions to more than 9,000 contract doctors and to newly qualified medical officers. Ilyana Mukhriz, a research associate at the Khazanah Research Institute, argues that while permanent contracts improve job security, they will not solve retention unless doctors receive decent working conditions, clear career progression, merit-based senior posts and appropriate remuneration, particularly in rural areas that need proper housing and basic amenities.

Health minister Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad reported that only 63% of permanent offers in Sabah and Sarawak have been accepted. Mukhriz also highlighted the need for stronger chronic disease prevention programs and better procurement of medical equipment, noting that some assets remain unusable despite a RM770 million allocation for new devices. Azrul Khalib, CEO of the Galen Centre, recommends a funded, multi-year recruitment and retention scheme and the creation of an independent health services commission, criticizing the budget for missing deeper structural reforms. The health ministry's allocation rises slightly to RM47 billion, with additional funds for equipment, outsourcing patient treatment, facility maintenance, the MediAsas insurance scheme and nationwide electronic medical records.