PETALING JAYA: Phasing out the contract system for medical officers, is among the measures taken to address the staffing crisis, says Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad. The manpower constraint has been driven by supply shortage due to the decline in medical graduates entering the system as well as the maldistribution of workforce across the nation. This includes the phasing out of the contract system for medical officers, mandatory mobilisation to ensure fair workforce distribution, streamlining house officers training for faster integration and enhancing healthcare workers' welfare. The Johor state health department said in January that contract medical officers have been mobilised to several hospitals in the state. In an interview with The Star in October, Dzulkefly had said a proposal to end the contract system would be tabled to the Cabinet.

Source: The Star February 14, 2026 10:23 UTC