JPA Endorses 66,312 New Health Ministry Posts Without Offsetting Cuts

KUALA LUMPUR, JULY 2026 – Malaysia’s Public Service Department has endorsed the creation of 66,312 new positions for the Ministry of Health without requiring corresponding reductions to existing posts, as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s public healthcare system.

The overall commitment carries an estimated financial implication of RM6.7 billion and covers positions intended to support new healthcare facilities, upgraded services and the wider delivery of medical care to the public.

Of the total, 53,516 positions were endorsed between 2019 and 2025 to support the operation of new health facilities, upgrading projects at existing facilities and improvements in public healthcare delivery. These positions involve an estimated government expenditure of RM4.5 billion.

The government also approved 12,796 permanent positions under three major Ministry of Health service schemes between 2022 and June 30, 2026. The positions cover medical officers, dental officers and pharmacists, with an estimated financial implication of RM2.2 billion.

The department said the initiative was intended to strengthen career pathways for healthcare workers while maintaining the continuity and quality of services provided to patients.

Its workforce planning is not limited to doctors, dentists and pharmacists. Applications submitted by the ministry also consider the staffing requirements of 83 other service schemes that support the wider healthcare ecosystem, including nursing, allied health and operational services.

The reported total does not include additional positions created through organisational restructuring, such as the establishment or strengthening of the Digital Health Division, Health Transformation Division and Allied Health Sciences Division.

At the same time, the Public Service Department and Ministry of Finance are reviewing an application for another 13,000 positions without offsetting cuts. These proposed posts would support 256 new and upgraded healthcare facilities and are expected to involve approximately RM1.25 billion in additional expenditure.

However, the department stressed that creating more positions alone would not resolve every workforce challenge facing Malaysia’s healthcare system.

According to Malaysia’s 2025 Health Indicators, the country has achieved a national ratio of approximately one medical officer for every 403 residents, meeting the target set for 2026. Nevertheless, the distribution of medical officers remains uneven across states and federal territories.

The department said the current challenge increasingly concerns how healthcare workers are distributed, placed and used across the country. Some hospitals and clinics may continue to experience shortages even when the national workforce ratio appears sufficient.

The Ministry of Health has been allocated staffing positions in bulk since at least 1993, allowing it to distribute personnel according to operational requirements. The Health director-general is responsible for determining the allocation, placement and filling of posts at hospitals and healthcare facilities based on service needs.

This means the endorsement of new positions does not necessarily indicate that every post has already been filled or that recruitment will occur simultaneously. Staffing will depend on placement planning, facility requirements and the relevant appointment processes.

The Public Service Department also conducts regular inspections and workforce reviews to identify gaps in the distribution and use of approved positions. It has recommended periodic reassessments and redistribution so that available personnel can be deployed more effectively.