The Malaysian Pharmacists Society (MPS) expresses its concern following recent reports by Free Malaysia Today regarding a group of contract pharmacists who may face termination of service despite prior indications of permanent appointment within the public health care system.
Many of the affected pharmacists have served for several years and represent a cohort that has already developed substantial clinical experience and operational familiarity within Malaysia’s health care settings. Their potential exit at this juncture raises concerns not only on individual welfare, but also on the continuity, efficiency, and safety of pharmaceutical care services.
MPS emphasises that this situation reflects a critical transition gap between workforce planning and administrative execution, rather than a question of workforce relevance. Pharmacists today play an increasingly vital role in multidisciplinary care, including medication safety, antimicrobial stewardship, chronic disease management, and optimisation of therapeutic outcomes.
The unintended loss of trained pharmacists at this stage may result in:
- Disruption to continuity of care and clinical pharmacy services;
- Increased onboarding burden for replacement personnel;
- Loss of accumulated expertise within the public health care system; and
- Reduced retention of experienced professionals at a time when service demands are expanding
In light of this, MPS respectfully proposes the following measures:
Immediate Transitional Safeguards
Consideration for interim contract extensions for affected pharmacists, pending the issuance of formal appointment letters, to prevent disruption of services and avoid premature workforce attrition.
Clear and Coordinated Communication
Timely and transparent communication on appointment status and expected timelines is essential to provide assurance, maintain morale, and support workforce retention.
Strengthening Workforce Transition Frameworks
The development of a more structured and predictable transition pathway from contract to permanent positions, aligned with national health care needs and service expansion.
Long-Term Workforce Planning Reform
A shift towards a forward-looking, data-driven workforce planning model that integrates training output, service demand, and placement capacity to ensure sustainability and minimise future mismatches.
Pharmacists are a cornerstone of safe and effective health care delivery. Ensuring workforce stability is not only a professional matter, but a patient safety and system sustainability imperative.
MPS remains committed to engaging constructively with the Ministry of Health Malaysia and relevant stakeholders to support practical, evidence-informed solutions that strengthen the pharmacy workforce and safeguard the quality of care for all Malaysians.
This statement was issued by MPA president Prof Amrahi Buang.
