Health Ministry steps up efforts to recruit, retain nurses amid overseas migration

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 11 — Amid the overseas migration of nurses, the Malaysian Ministry of Health is intensifying recruitment and retention efforts to ensure public nursing services remain competitive and nurses' welfare is protected. Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad announced several measures, including salary adjustments under the Public Service Remuneration System (SSPA) and enhanced incentives.

The Post-Basic Incentive will now rise from RM100 to RM200 a month. "Ensuring the competitiveness of public nursing services while safeguarding nurses' welfare is our top priority," said Dzulkefly during the launch of the National Liver Health Initiative Roadmap 2026-2030 at Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.

Other initiatives include maintaining a 42-hour working week for shift-duty nurses, expanding training and promotion opportunities, and increasing flexibility in placements via a mutual exchange system. Dzulkefly highlighted that nurses have benefited significantly from the mutual exchange system and emphasized accelerated recruitment to fill vacant positions. The ministry has also transitioned from contract-based recruitment to offering all new nurses permanent appointments.

Furthermore, the Ministry of Health is collaborating with the Ministry of Finance to expedite the conversion of contract pharmacists into permanent roles. As of July, 3,545 contract pharmacists remained in the MOH, with 115 on the reserve list or awaiting permanent appointments. Dzulkefly expressed optimism that the appointment process could be expedited, enabling these pharmacists to join the permanent service.