MPS urges Putrajaya to detail contract pharmacists’ absorption timeline and quota numbers

Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad speaks with host Ally Iskandar during the 'Ruang Bicara' show at Wisma Bernama in Kuala Lumpur on October 12, 2026. — Bernama pic

By Malay Mail

First Published: Wednesday, 14 Oct 2026 3:09 PM MYT

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 14 — The Malaysian Pharmacists Society (MPS) has welcomed the government’s move to recommend contract pharmacy officers for permanent posts, but insists Putrajaya must quickly settle the critical details on quota figures, eligibility rules, and an implementation timeline.

The response follows remarks by Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, who confirmed on Monday that the Ministry of Health (MOH) will submit a proposal to the Ministry of Finance and the Cabinet to absorb contract pharmacy officers into permanent positions.

He said permanent posts for dental and pharmacy personnel will come from a distinct allocation, separate from the 9,000 permanent medical officer positions unveiled under Budget 2027.

In a statement today, MPS singled out this dedicated quota and the pledge of a reasonable timeframe as encouraging signals for thousands of young officers who continue to staff public hospitals and clinics amid persistent career uncertainty.

Figures from the society show that 3,545 contract pharmacists remained on MOH rosters as of July 2026, while another 115 sat on the reserve list or awaited formal appointment.

“The latest clarification provides an important indication of the Government’s policy direction,” MPS president Prof Ph. Amrahi Buang said in the statement.

“The priority now is to translate this commitment into a clear, transparent and implementable pathway.”

To turn this commitment into reality, the society is seeking urgent clarification on the exact number of permanent positions to be created and when the proposal will reach the Cabinet and the Treasury.

It also wants transparent criteria detailing which cohorts will qualify, whether the 115 candidates on reserve will receive priority placement, and what options remain for those who have already exhausted their contract tenure but still wish to serve in the public healthcare system.

The society also urged authorities to reveal how evaluation panels will weigh clinical experience, seniority, and local staffing needs during the selection process, including whether appointments will be phased.

While MPS acknowledged that opening permanent posts demands seamless coordination between MOH, the Public Services Department, and the Treasury, it warned that prolonged ambiguity risks driving talent out of the public sector.

Beyond immediate absorption, the society also called on Putrajaya to weave these measures into a long-term pharmacy workforce strategy that reflects evolving clinical roles, frontline workload, and talent retention.

MPS pledged to work closely with MOH and central agencies through its Public Pharmacists Chapter, urging regular public updates as the Cabinet paper takes shape.

Contract dentistry faces a parallel challenge. The Malaysian Dental Association recently pressed Putrajaya for equitable treatment following the medical officer intake.

Addressing dental officers whose contracts ended without renewal, Dzulkefly maintained that MOH will keep monitoring their welfare and recognise their public service record.

During the same broadcast, Dzulkefly also expressed hope that the Treasury would clear a RM100 million seed grant to scale up non-communicable disease interventions across primary healthcare clinics nationwide.