KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 12 — Contract pharmacists, including those who lost their reserve status, can apply for permanent positions should intakes reopen next year, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said today.
The MOH confirmed that the reserve period for 730 contract pharmacists expired last October, in line with existing appointment procedures.
“However, MOH wishes to assure that the Ministry intends to reopen applications for permanent pharmacist appointments in the coming year, subject to the availability of new or vacant posts and approval of establishment. Eligible contract pharmacists, including those affected, will need to submit fresh applications when the new intake is announced,” said the MOH in a statement.
“MOH remains committed to workforce planning that is transparent, merit-based, and aligned with service needs and approved staffing capacity.”
The ministry explained that during the last appointment exercise, the number of permanent pharmacists posts available was limited to 600 positions.
“The remaining contract pharmacists were not offered permanent appointments as there were no additional vacant posts beyond the approved establishment.”
The Malaysian Pharmacists Society (MPS) and the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) previously demanded a resolution for the over 700 contract pharmacists who lost their reserve status in October.
Senator Dr RA Lingeshwaran told the Dewan Negara last Monday that the contracts of these senior pharmacists from the 2021 cohort are set to end between April and July 2026.
He called for the reactivation of the “reserve” status for the 730 pharmacy officers and urged the MOH to state whether their contracts would be extended pending permanent appointments.
MOH’s statement today did not make such guarantees.
