Speed up establishment of health service commission, govt told

Former health minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa has urged the government to expedite the creation of a health service commission in response to concerns over the RM30 incentive paid to Flying Doctor Service personnel. Dr Zaliha noted that the issue of allowance for these personnel has been raised since November 2025 and urged the government not to wait for public attention before taking action.

She emphasized the need for a structure that continuously monitors, coordinates, and addresses manpower issues systematically and swiftly. Health minister Dzulkefly Ahmad stated that steps have been taken to address concerns over the FDS allowance, but the issue resurfaced following a fatal helicopter crash involving four FDS personnel in Sarawak on Tuesday.

Dr Zaliha stressed that healthcare workers are the backbone of the country's healthcare system and that their challenges should be understood and addressed by a responsive system. She expressed hope that the government would consider the proposal for a health service commission, a structural solution previously suggested by the Malaysian Medical Association as the most sustainable option for workforce planning and human resource management.