Politics · Malaysia Bureau
Push for faster health service commission establishment
Former Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa has called on the government to accelerate the establishment of a health service commission, citing long-standing concerns over allowances for medical personnel that have remained unresolved since late last year.
LSN Malaysia ·
Dr Zaliha, who previously held the health portfolio, emphasised the urgency of setting up the independent commission to address systemic issues within the nation's healthcare sector. The delay in creating the body has compounded grievances among Field Doctor Service (FDS) personnel regarding their compensation packages, matters that have been flagged repeatedly without satisfactory resolution.
The allowance issue affecting FDS staff has been a persistent point of contention, with concerns first raised in November of the previous year. Dr Zaliha's intervention underscores ongoing frustrations within the medical community over stalled administrative reforms and unresolved employment matters.
The establishment of a dedicated health service commission is viewed as essential to streamlining decision-making processes and addressing personnel-related issues more effectively. Healthcare workers have stressed that delayed action on compensation and benefits frameworks undermines workforce morale and retention within the public health system.
The government has not yet announced a specific timeline for implementing the health service commission, though officials have previously indicated commitment to the initiative as part of broader healthcare sector reforms.