Health Ministry’s hiring power hailed
The Malaysian Health Ministry has been granted autonomy to manage its own healthcare staffing and recruitment. Experts warn that while this improves administrative efficiency, it may not solve underlying issues like funding shortages and a lack of trained professionals.
Why it matters
This policy shift highlights the ongoing global challenge of balancing administrative decentralization with the practical realities of healthcare workforce sustainability.
Experts: But this may not resolve staff shortages as other issues persist
PETALING JAYA: The move to allow the Health Ministry to manage and allocate its own approved healthcare posts will not necessarily resolve the long-standing shortage of healthcare personnel, say health experts.
While welcoming the move to speed up recruitment and improve workforce planning, they said insufficient funding and a shortage of healthcare professionals to fill the approved posts could hamper its effectiveness.
Public healthcare specialist Prof Dr Sharifa Ezat Wan Puteh of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia said giving the Health Ministry greater authority to determine where healthcare workers are needed was a positive step, as staffing requirements differed across states.
“The authority and trust that the Public Service Department (JPA) has given the Health Ministry is commendable.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in