MoH to recommend permanent posts for contract dental, pharmacy officers

The Health Ministry (MoH) plans to propose permanent positions for contract dental and pharmacy officers, with the aim of presenting the suggestion to the Finance Ministry and the cabinet. This initiative stems from the Health Minister's previous handling of contract medical doctors. The first step involves creating a separate quota for dental and pharmacy officers, distinct from the 9,000 permanent medical doctor positions earmarked in the 2027 Budget.

The Malaysian Dental Association (MDA) has previously advocated for permanent appointments for contract dental officers, following the announcement of permanent roles for medical doctors. Dzulkefly Ahmad, the Health Minister, emphasized that the MoH would maintain attention towards the welfare and work experience of contract dental officers, who had seen their contracts not renewed.

Responding to reports of such terminations, Dzulkefly pledged continued support for their professional welfare and experience in the public healthcare system. Furthermore, the Health Minister expressed optimism regarding the Finance Ministry's consideration of a proposed RM100 million allocation to bolster non-communicable diseases (NCDs) management at the primary healthcare level.

This investment is crucial for enhancing prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment, and continuous control of chronic diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure. NCD management is a key focus of the reforms, alongside initiatives like PeKa B40, which received RM80 million. The ministry's NCD management spending benchmarking draws insights from practices in countries like Singapore and Indonesia, as well as global trends emphasizing the importance of primary healthcare services.