{
  "id": 13140087,
  "title": "Pharmacists need permanent posts too, says group",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/pharmacists-need-permanent-posts-too-says-group-13140087",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-10-09T14:47:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2026/10/09/pharmacists-need-permanent-posts-too-says-group"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Malaysian Pharmacists Society (MPS) has urged the government to clarify the status of contract pharmacists and provide a clear path to permanent appointments. While the 2027 budget announcement has secured permanent positions for over 9,000 contract doctors, MPS president Amrahi Buang emphasized that contract pharmacists also serve in public health facilities and are facing employment uncertainty. This includes those currently employed, on reserve lists, and those who have completed their contractual service. MPS wants the government to confirm its plans for contract pharmacists, establish a transparent timeline and mechanism for permanent recruitment, and engage with the profession to determine long-term workforce needs. The society supports the government's efforts to strengthen the country's healthcare workforce but believes a solution to the contract healthcare workforce issue is incomplete without addressing the concerns of pharmacists.",
  "summary": "The Malaysian Pharmacists Society wants clarification on the government's plans for contract pharmacists, including those currently serving, those on reserve lists and those who have completed their contractual service.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Pharmacists need permanent posts too, says group",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/pharmacists-need-permanent-posts-too-says-group",
        "published": "2026-10-09T14:47:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}