300 contract pharmacists offered permanent posts
About 300 government contract pharmacists who were previously left without permanent appointments have now received offer letters, resolving part of a staffing issue affecting 730 officers.
Free Malaysia Today (FMT) reported that the pharmacists were among those who were not offered permanent positions despite earlier assurances in October, raising concerns that their contracts would lapse in April next year.
The remaining pharmacists, whose reserve list status expired in October, have been granted a one-year extension, reducing the immediate risk of job losses.
The offer letters sighted by FMT did not specify the effective date of appointment, although the postings are understood to take effect in February next year.
The issue was raised in the Dewan Negara earlier this month by Senator Dr RA Lingeshwaran, who highlighted that the pharmacists would be removed from the reserve list after serving the maximum five years allowed under their contracts.
He said the pharmacists were left in limbo after being told they needed to submit fresh applications following the lapse of their reserve list status.
Those who have yet to receive offer letters are expected to be considered once the Health Ministry advises the Public Services Commission on available vacancies.
Lingeshwaran later thanked Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad for taking swift action after the matter was raised in the upper house.
The permanent appointments were ultimately offered based on the existing reserve list, resolving uncertainty for hundreds of contract pharmacists.
Source: FMT
Category: MJN enews
