KUALA LUMPUR, August 25 — The Ministry of Health (MOH) says no nurses have left government service to join the private health sector in Malaysia, with resignations instead driven mainly by overseas migration and personal reasons.
Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad, in a written parliamentary reply to Masjid Tanah MP Mas Ermieyati Samsudin last Thursday, said checks with the Malaysian Nursing Board confirmed that “no nurses from the MOH have migrated to the domestic private health sector.”
He explained that nurses who resigned from MOH and maintained their registration with the Board did so largely due to moving abroad or for personal matters.
As of June 30, 2025, there are 69,544 nurses serving in MOH facilities nationwide, making up 23 per cent of the health ministry’s 302,208 total health care workforce.
Dzulkefly, however, acknowledged existing shortages and said the government is committed to increasing recruitment.
He highlighted several initiatives to expand the supply of nurses, including permanent appointments under the U5 grade to replace interim contracts, an increase in nursing diploma trainees at MOH training institutes (ILKKM) from 1,000 in 2023 to 3,000 starting in 2025, and the lifting of a moratorium on nursing diploma programmes in universities and colleges from August 2024.
“The MOH, through the Malaysian Nursing Board, has also relaxed entry requirements for nursing diploma programmes for SPM graduates to increase enrolment in nursing at ILKKM, public universities, and private institutions,” Dzulkefly said.
He added that MOH is also conducting briefings for final-year nursing students in universities to attract them to the profession.
Beyond recruitment, Dzulkefly said MOH is improving pay and benefits for nurses under the new Public Service Remuneration System (SSPA).
Nurses received an 8 per cent salary adjustment from December 1, 2024, followed by a second 7 per cent adjustment from January 1, 2026.
New starting salaries were also revised upwards, from RM1,797 to RM1,974 for U5 grade nurses and from RM2,429 to RM2,580 for U9 grade nurses.
In addition, nurses are entitled to various allowances under the SSPA, including RM150 to RM165 monthly as critical service incentive, RM100 for post-basic training, RM100 for caring for psychiatric, tuberculosis, and leprosy patients, RM135 to RM210 for rural postings, RM30 per round trip for air travel in rural health services, and RM500 to RM1,500 for location and hardship incentives.
The health minister also highlighted mental health and psychosocial support initiatives available for nurses.
These include access to tele-counselling via the HEAL 15555 hotline, expanded counselling services in MOH facilities with trained psychologists, and peer-support networks under the AKRAB programme.
Nurses also have access to digital resources through the MyMinda platform, mental health screenings under the Kospen Wow programme, and support from Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) teams that provide early psychological aid in the field.
“The effort to retain nurses in the public health sector does not lie solely on MOH, but is a complex issue that requires long-term solutions and continuous efforts from various parties and agencies.
“From time to time, MOH will continue engagement sessions with central agencies to improve incentives and benefits for nurses so that they remain in MOH,” Dzulkefly said.
Only 12 Doctors Migrated Abroad In 2024
In a separate parliamentary reply on August 18 to Permatang Pauh MP Muhammad Fawwaz Mohamad Jan, Dzulkefly said 12 doctors resigned from MOH in 2024 to work overseas, comprising 3.1 per cent of the 386 total resignations recorded that year.
“The main factor for doctors migrating abroad is competitive salary offers, influenced by higher foreign exchange rates especially in developed or high-income countries,” he said.
Dzulkefly explained that MOH has no authority to prevent doctors from seeking employment abroad or in the private sector, but the ministry is pursuing measures to retain medical officers.
Since 2023, a total of 13,552 contract doctors have been offered permanent posts, with about 4,000 converted annually.
Doctors are also offered a starting salary of RM5,380 at the UD9 grade, the highest entry-level pay across the civil service, alongside annual increments of RM225.
Other incentives include locum allowances of RM80 per hour, on-call allowances of RM80 to RM220 per night, elective surgery allowances of RM80 per hour, and career progression opportunities through time-based promotions to UD14 within 12 years or lateral entry at UD10 for permanent appointees.
Training pathways have also expanded, with MOH sponsoring up to 600 annual slots for the Parallel Pathway specialist training programme across 14 disciplines starting 2025, compared to 52 slots in 2022.
Contract doctors are also eligible for specialist training scholarships, Dzulkefly said.
For wellbeing support, Dzulkefly said MOH has introduced mental health and resilience programmes such as the HEAL 15555 crisis line, the “Kintsukuroi” programme to strengthen coping skills, and the House Officer Encouragement and Reassurance Through Sharing and Support (HEARTS) support system for house officers.
“The effort to retain doctors in the public health sector is not only the responsibility of MOH, but is a complex issue that requires long-term solutions and continuous efforts from various parties and agencies,” Dzulkefly stressed.
