KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 10 — Dr Zaliha Mustafa today backtracked from her initial position against a proposed establishment of a Health Service Commission when she was health minister.
As she posted condolences to five victims, including four Ministry of Health (MOH) staff, killed in a Flying Doctor Service (FDS) helicopter crash in Long Lellang, Ulu Baram, Sarawak last Tuesday, the chairwoman of the Madani government backbenchers club (BBC) said the issue of health care workers’ welfare and remuneration has received public attention once more.
“In this context, I propose that the government expedite efforts towards the establishment of a Health Service Commission as part of a comprehensive reform of the national health system,” Dr Zaliha said in a statement.
“The need for a more specialised mechanism to manage the health workforce has already been identified in the reform process outlined in the Health White Paper (HWP).
“The health sector has its own distinct needs and challenges, including in matters of recruitment, placement, service schemes, career development, remuneration and the welfare of the workforce.
“The issue concerning allowances for Air Medical Service personnel, which has been submitted for consideration since November 2025, is one example that demonstrates the need for a more specialised and responsive mechanism to address the needs of health care workers.”
In June 2023, then-Health Minister Dr Zaliha told the Dewan Rakyat while winding up debate on the HWP that establishing a Health Service Commission “is not suitable in today’s context”.
She told parliamentarians that a Health Service Commission, which would have overlapping functions with the Public Services Commission (SPA), “will not solve issues faced by the ministry”, adding that forming a new service commission would be convoluted and require constitutional amendments.
“The formation of a Health Service Commission does not confer the power to create new positions and to devise a retirement system, including setting more competitive emoluments for officers under the said service commission,” said Dr Zaliha when she was health minister then.
The HWP – which proposes health care reforms over the long term of 15 years – doesn’t mention the establishment of a Health Service Commission.
It’s unclear what has changed over the past three years, in terms of policies related to health worker remuneration and welfare, that motivated Dr Zaliha’s change in her position on a Health Service Commission.
Today, the Sekijang MP said: “We shouldn’t wait until an issue receives public attention before action can be taken.”
“Human resources are among the greatest challenges in ensuring that the national health care system continues to function effectively and is able to meet the needs of the people. Therefore, I believe that the proposal to establish a Health Service Commission should be taken to the next stage with greater urgency,” said Dr Zaliha.
Malaysians have been outraged over revelations that doctors, nurses, and assistant medical officers serving on the FDS receive only an RM30 allowance. The Air Health Service Incentive Payment was created in 1978.
At a press conference yesterday, Dr Zaliha’s successor, Dzulkefly Ahmad, did not confirm that the allowance was RM30, when asked by reporters, simply saying that the MOH proposed last November an increase. He didn’t specify the proposed quantum of increment either.
