The Health Ministry (MOH) is stepping up efforts to tackle long-standing structural manpower challenges amid declining numbers of medical graduates entering the workforce and persistent maldistribution of healthcare personnel nationwide.
MOH Minister Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad shared that as of February 2026, the national fill rate across 48 public training hospitals stands at just 53%, with 6,500 positions filled out of 12,198 available slots.
“The shortfall is more acute under the first intake for 2026, where 579 appointed graduates filled only about 10% of total national vacancies, triggering a chain reaction on staffing capacity across public health facilities,” he said.
However, he stressed that house officers are placed primarily for structured clinical training, not as additional manpower to plug service gaps.
He reaffirmed that training objectives and competency development remain the core priority.
Meanwhile, to address systemic challenges, the minister said the ministry is pursuing several structural reforms, including a phased transition away from the contract doctor system to provide more sustainable career pathways, as well as a strategic mobilisation policy requiring compulsory service officers to serve in high-burden states and critical facilities.
“The ministry is also committed to strengthening postgraduate training quality and enhancing healthcare worker welfare by reviewing financial incentives, improving allowances for high-burden and rural postings, and upgrading staff quarters and workplace facilities,” he added.
Overall, Dr Dzulkefly said the ministry will continue refining workforce distribution strategies, collaborating with higher education institutions to improve graduate projections and engaging central agencies to ensure Malaysia’s public healthcare system remains resilient, safe and sustainable.
