{
  "id": 17720576,
  "title": "Health Ministry faces 1,176-driver shortage, including for ambulances",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/02/health-ministry-faces-1-176-driver-shortage-including-for-ambulances",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-02T01:38:44.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2026/11/1568780/health-ministry-faces-1176-driver-shortage-including-ambulances"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "The Health Ministry in Malaysia is currently experiencing a shortage of 1,176 vehicle drivers, including ambulance drivers, across its facilities nationwide. This shortage is expected to persist until April 2027, causing an increased workload for existing drivers. The shortage is attributed to delays in filling General Services Assistant (Driving) positions following the temporary suspension of recruitment by the Public Service Department in 2024. The suspension was implemented to facilitate the introduction of the new Public Service Remuneration System (SSPA), which has required a thorough review of qualification requirements to ensure recruits are suitable and competent in driving duties, particularly when operating ambulances. The new scheme, known as General Services Assistant (Driving), encourages a broader scope of duties, multi-skilling, and the performance of multiple tasks.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Health ministry short of 1,176 drivers, including for ambulances",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/02/health-ministry-short-of-1-176-drivers-including-for-ambulances",
        "published": "2026-11-02T02:02:53.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "Health Ministry faces shortage of 1,176 drivers, including ambulance personnel",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/02/health-ministry-faces-shortage-of-1-176-drivers-including-ambulance",
        "published": "2026-11-02T02:37:31.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}