Malaysia’s Health Ministry has launched a series of measures to tackle a severe shortage of nursing staff in public healthcare facilities. The initiative responds to a crisis marked by over 10,557 unfilled Grade U5 nursing positions and a persistent trend of nurses leaving for higher-paying roles abroad. According to recent data, the country lost 3,021 registered nurses to overseas employment in 2024 alone, with private-sector losses forming the largest share but public hospitals also feeling the strain.
The ministry’s strategy centers on salary increases, revised work policies, and structural reforms to improve retention. Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad unveiled the plan during a visit to Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz UKM, where he simultaneously introduced the National Liver Health Initiative Roadmap 2026–2030. A cornerstone of the nursing reforms is the expansion of the post-basic allowance, which will rise from RM100 to RM200 per month for eligible staff. The ministry will also phase out contract-based nursing appointments and introduce a mutual transfer system to enhance career mobility across facilities.
Current vacancy figures paint a stark picture of the problem’s severity. While 6,787 positions remained unfilled in March 2024, that number climbed to 10,557 by August 2024, driven by both attrition and the creation of new roles due to hospital expansions. To address this, the ministry has committed additional budget allocations in Budget 2027 specifically for permanent nursing appointments and salary adjustments. The move aligns with earlier parliamentary acknowledgments by Dzulkefly, who identified vacancies as a direct consequence of both understaffing in existing roles and the strain of accommodating facility growth.
One immediate policy change will retain the 42-hour workweek for shift-based nurses, a provision the minister described as essential for preventing burnout and improving job satisfaction. The ministry has also signaled plans to expand placement options through the mutual transfer system, though exact transfer volumes remain unspecified.
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