As of June 30, 13,072 doctor positions in the health ministry remained vacant, including 1,660 specialist posts, according to health minister Dzulkefly Ahmad. The minister revealed that 3,510 medical officers resigned between 2024 and 2026, with 51.4% moving to the private sector and 36.8% citing personal reasons. Among the resignations, 4.5% joined statutory bodies, while 1.5% pursued further studies and 0.3% opened their own clinics.
In response to a parliamentary question from V Ganabatirau, Dzulkefly detailed the resignation trends. He noted that 2.9% of doctors left to work or settle overseas, while 2.6% resigned due to health issues. Notably, eight medical specialists were among those who resigned or migrated overseas. During the same period, the ministry appointed 14,064 permanent and 9,847 contract medical officers, with 4,500 contract doctors offered permanent positions this year to address staffing shortages.
To tackle staffing shortages, a task force established in April by the public services department is addressing staffing issues. The health ministry has also been granted greater authority to manage and distribute approved positions to expedite recruitment. These measures aim to streamline the hiring process and reduce vacancies, particularly in specialist roles.
The health ministry’s efforts to reduce hospital waiting times have shown progress. Six government hospitals have achieved the target of treating at least 70% of non-emergency patients within two hours, down from the previous average of four to six hours. Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital in Ipoh led with 98.61% of green zone patients treated within the target time. This was followed by Ampang Hospital (88.78%), Selayang Hospital (74.1%), Sultanah Aminah Hospital in Johor Bahru (73.2%), Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital in Klang (72.2%), and Kuala Lumpur Hospital (71.8%).
Extended operating hours at selected government health clinics have contributed to a 9% reduction in patient attendance at six major hospitals. These clinics now operate until 9pm on weekdays and from 8am to 1pm on weekends and public holidays, effectively diverting patients with minor ailments from hospital emergency departments. This shift has alleviated pressure on emergency services and improved overall patient flow.
As of June, all eight initiatives under the special task force on agency reform to reduce hospital overcrowding have been fully implemented. Additional measures include outsourcing treatment to private general practitioners and expanding digital screening for non-emergency patients to 545 health clinics. These efforts aim to enhance efficiency and reduce wait times across the healthcare system.
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