The proposed Health Services Commission will handle appointments and promotions but not salaries or new posts, which remain under JPA and the Finance Ministry.
KUALA LUMPUR: The proposed Health Services Commission (SPK) will not have the authority to create new positions or determine more competitive salary schemes for healthcare workers, with such powers remaining under the Public Service Department (JPA) and the Finance Ministry, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said today.
He said the commission’s proposed responsibilities would focus on appointments, confirmation of service, promotions, transfers and disciplinary control over healthcare personnel, rather than determining staffing levels or remuneration.
Dzulkefly was responding to Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa (PH-Sekijang), who asked whether the government could commit to tabling the Health Services Commission Bill for its first reading before the end of 2027, in line with the reform objectives outlined in the Health White Paper.
He said establishing the commission remained a government commitment, particularly to strengthen human resource management and improve the welfare of healthcare personnel across the Health Ministry’s 86 service schemes.
However, he said the process involved several steps, including amendments to the Federal Constitution.
Dzulkefly explained that the proposed commission would exercise powers under Article 144 of the Federal Constitution to appoint and confirm personnel, place them in permanent or pensionable positions, promote and transfer them, and exercise disciplinary control over staff under its jurisdiction.
However, the creation of new positions and the formulation of remuneration schemes, including more competitive salaries, would remain under JPA and the Finance Ministry, in line with arrangements governing other service commissions, including the Education Service Commission and the Police Force Commission.
As part of preparations for the SPK, he said the Health Ministry held an engagement session with other service commissions and JPA on Oct 22 to learn about best practices and the processes involved in establishing and operating such commissions.
He said the ministry would continue improving healthcare workers’ welfare while preparations for the commission proceeded.
Among the measures undertaken was the establishment of a special task force on staffing involving central agencies, with JPA authorising the ministry to manage the distribution of positions.
The government also increased the On-Call Duty Allowance (ETAP) rates in 2025 and raised the post-basic allowance for paramedics and nurses to RM200 a month.
Dzulkefly said more than 15,000 contract medical officers had been appointed to permanent positions since 2023, with a further 9,000 permanent appointments planned for 2027.
He said the planned appointments would bring an end to the contract doctor system.
He reiterated that efforts to establish the commission would continue alongside measures to improve the welfare of healthcare personnel.