The Ministry of Health (MOH) is holding discussions with the Public Service Department (PSD) to absorb contract medical personnel as permanent staff without pensions.

Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa said this is to deal with the workload that exceeds the capacity of available resources, as well as to reduce the burden of the pension scheme borne by the country at the moment, which amounted to RM29.1 billion in 2021.

“We are aware of the burden facing the government with the pension scheme, which in 2011 was worth RM3.1 billion and increased to RM29.1 billion in 2021. So, the way out is to absorb contract workers on a permanent basis, but without a pension, yet they enjoy the same benefits as other permanent workers, like eligible for housing loan,” he said during the question and answer session in the Dewan Negara yesterday.

She was responding to a supplementary question from Datuk Jefridin Atan who wanted to know whether the Health Ministry is considering employing more contract doctors to overcome the workload of health workers.

Meanwhile, Dr Zaliha said due to the increase in cases of non-communicable diseases (NCD) cases, the ministry is facing an increase in the number of in- and out-patients in health facilities, causing overcrowding in hospitals.