He said the number is still not enough to meet the growing demand, hence the Ministry of Health (MOH) is taking a cluster hospital approach to expand access to oncology services.

“So far, we have 184 oncologists nationwide based on 2025 data, which is an increase of 60% compared to 2019. Of that number, 65 serve under the Ministry of Health, 107 in the private sector while the rest are still in training.

“Yes, we are facing a shortage of oncologists. The ideal ratio we are targeting has not yet been achieved. That is why I am emphasising a cluster-based approach where specialists in major hospitals can support district hospitals or facilities that do not have permanent specialists,” he said.

He told the media after officiating the World Cancer Day 2026 programme at Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka here on Wednesday.

Dzulkefly said cancer remained the third highest cause of death in Malaysia with new cases remaining at a stable rate of around 40,000 per year.

He said that although the figure showed a flat trend, his ministry would continue to intensify early screening and prevention efforts, especially for breast, colorectal, lung and prostate cancer.

Quoting data from the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM), Dzulkefly said the agency’s data showed that cancer contributed 14.3% of all deaths in 2024, up from 13.8% in 2023.

To address the access gap, especially among the B40 (Bottom 40% income group) community and rural residents, Dzulkefly said the programme Cancer Heroes was launched on Wednesday using a “closer to home” approach to expand early screening and treatment.

He said the initiative, implemented in collaboration with SBS Nexus and the National Cancer Society of Malaysia, was a paradigm shift involving the patronage of the Royal Family covering six major types of cancer in Malaysia, namely breast, colorectal, lung, cervical, genitourinary and childhood cancer.

Dzulkefly said the relevant programme was also supported through strategic collaborations with 13 non-governmental organisations to strengthen prevention, disease control and the delivery of integrated support services to patients.

“To address the burden of cancer, the ministry will focus on four main thrusts, namely prevention, promotion, advocacy and screening, with the aim of ensuring early detection and timely treatment, including through the Cancer Heroes programme,” he said.

This follows a high volume of applications received at the end of last year, which has caused delays in issuing the certificates.

Any medical practitioner who submitted a complete application, made payment, and complied with all legal requirements before or on December 31, 2025, may practise without penalty until their certificate is issued.

This allowance applies provided the practitioner is not under any restriction, suspension, or prohibition under the Medical Act 1971.

For complete applications, the effective date of the APC is January 1, 2026, or the date of professional indemnity coverage, not the approval date.

The council apologised for the delay in processing and issuing the APC certificates this year.

It attributed the backlog to a sudden increase in applications, particularly those with supporting documents submitted late.

The MMC said it appreciates the patience of all medical practitioners and that the step was taken to guarantee the continuity of health services.

It added that appropriate improvement steps will be taken to ensure the issue does not recur.

Media reports today highlighted concerns from medical practitioners who had not received their APC certificates for this year despite submitting applications.

Source – Bernama

Health minister Dzulkefly Ahmad said this was an annual increase of RM120 million from the RM287 million previously earmarked every year for the on-call allowances.

This comes after the government raised the allowances by about 40% in October, after not being reviewed since 2011.

“The allowances for medical and dental specialists were raised to between RM135 and RM350 per shift, while medical and dental officers are now getting between RM110 and RM300 a shift.

“All health ministry facilities have been ordered to implement this new on-call allowance rate since Oct 1. This also applies to medical and dental officers serving in government health facilities under the army and public universities,” he said in a written parliamentary reply to Andi Suryady Bandy (BN-Kalabakan).

Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said the remaining 70 doctors who came back to Malaysia opted to work in the private sector or with statutory bodies instead of rejoining government service.

“Not all ground is greener next door until they step on it,” he remarked during the policy-stage debate on the Supply Bill (Budget) 2026.

Dr Dzulkefly said that to address the ongoing issue of healthcare professionals migrating abroad, the ministry must continue improving career structures, particularly those relating to remuneration and wages.

“What is most important is for the Ministry of Health to continue refining the career schemes, especially regarding pay and allowances,” he said.

“My team is actively exploring ways to retain our healthcare workforce, including specialists, medical officers and nurses. This is among the measures we are implementing to keep our experts in service.”

On claims that Singapore’s Ministry of Health had been attempting to recruit Malaysian specialists and nurses to work in its facilities, Dr Dzulkefly clarified that the matter had been raised directly with his Singaporean counterpart.

“Frankly, I have contacted the Health Minister of Singapore. Initially, I received confirmation from him that such activities were being carried out by private recruitment agencies,” he said. “He himself expressed regret over the matter. We will continue to engage further on this issue, as this is not the first time I have taken action.”

Its chairman, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Jailani Muhamed Yunus said the appointments were actually carried out earlier through interim appointments before permanent appointments are made comprehensively.

“The appointment process will continue and be expedited as best as possible as recommended by the government,” he said at a media conference after officiating the commission’s interview centre at the Ipoh Urban Transformation Centre (UTC), which was also attended by Ipoh mayor Zamakhshari Hanipah.

Ahmad Jailani, who was commenting on the appointment of 4,500 contract doctors who will be offered permanent posts as announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim while tabling Budget 2026 in October, said that the commission had recently given permanent appointments to over 3,000 nurses, including new appointments and confirming nurses with interim status.

“No permanent service period was set, so any candidate who fulfilled the conditions will be directly appointed to a permanent position without any obstacle.

“Interim appointments will also be followed by permanent appointments after the assessment process and other conditions under the commission are met. All related demands have and will be met, and those who qualify will receive permanent appointments,” Ahmad Jailani said.

The PSC also stressed that the process of appointments will be studied in further detail to ensure the long term sustainability of the public healthcare service in line with current needs and government policies.

He also said the commission encouraged youth to join the National Service Training Programme 3.0 to build character and boost their chances to serve in the private sector as the government has set a special quota of 30 per cent for alumni of the training programme for the Public Service Entrance Examination for further consideration.

“This measure is a form of recognition to trainees for their added value, including discipline, patriotism and leadership skills honed throughout the training.

“The provision of special merit will give priority to trainees in screening process till the interview stage for intake into the public service,” he said.

Ahmad Jailani said all individuals had the opportunity to apply for various positions in the public service, but being called up for interviews still depended on the candidate’s performance during the examination, a main component in the process of appointing civil servants.

He also said that the Ipoh UTC interview centre would speed up the intake process of civil service in Perak, as it not only would be the location of official interviews, but provide consultation services and deliver accurate information to candidates and the public.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said some RM120 million would be spent on this annually, adding that this was the government’s way to show its appreciation for the various medical officers, specialists and dentists serving the country.

He acknowledged that the allowance had not been reviewed since 2011.

“Specialists will have their on-call allowance raised to RM350 from RM250 previously,” he said.

On general practitioners’ consultation fees, Anwar said the government has agreed to revise the range between RM10 and RM80, compared to the previous range of RM10 to RM35.

“This would allow greater flexibility to the level of service offered, while maintaining a minimum rate that does not burden the public,” he said.

He said all who accepted will report for duty at Ministry of Health (MOH) facilities nationwide beginning October 2.

“Generally speaking, compared to previous years, the acceptance rate is about the same now. The difference this time is that we are offering three placement options, including in Sabah and Sarawak. That’s the main challenge to overcome the problem of maldistribution,” he told reporters after officiating the 14th Allied Health Scientific Conference (AHSC) 2025 here today.

“From the perspective of the Ministry of Health, as the minister, I really hope they will continue to be with us to develop, strengthen, and empower our public health facilities further.”

Dzulkefly said surveys in Sabah and Sarawak showed many medical officers from Peninsular Malaysia, who were initially reluctant, later chose to remain serving there for between five and 10 years.

On July 23, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced that the government would expedite the filling of 4,352 posts in healthcare facilities, including appointing contract doctors, to address urgent needs in the health sector.

Anwar had also urged the MOH to speed up bureaucratic processes that were delaying appointments, as the ministry initially expected most or all positions to be filled by November.

Meanwhile, Dzulkefly said the ministry, in collaboration with the Finance Ministry, Bank Negara Malaysia and the Employees Provident Fund, had introduced RESET, a framework to coordinate health financing reforms across both the public and private sectors.

He said RESET provides the umbrella for initiatives such as Medical and Health Insurance/Takaful (MHIT), Diagnosis-Related Groups (DRG) and the National Health Fund (DKN) to be developed coherently.

“It is designed to ensure financial sustainability, safeguard equity, and give us the resilience to respond to future health threats. Every ringgit collected will be ring-fenced and channelled back into strengthening our public health system.

“Let me be very clear, this is not privatisation. These reforms are about strengthening our public system, because only the public system serves every Malaysian, in every corner of the country,” he said.

Dzulkefly added that the Allied Health Workforce Blueprint 2026–2035, developed with the World Health Organisation, is expected to be launched soon.

The blueprint, he said, will serve as a roadmap to strengthen governance, optimise workforce capacity and ensure allied health professionals are recognised as strategic drivers of change.

The AHSC, themed ‘Innovate, Integrate, Inspire: Sustainable Healthcare Through Allied Health’, was attended by more than 500 participants.

Source — Bernama

A report by the Japanese Society of Gastroenterological Surgery, presented to the health ministry, projects that the number of gastrointestinal surgeons will fall by 40% by 2040, dropping from around 15,200 today to 9,200. Demand, however, is expected to require nearly 14,400 specialists, leaving a gap of more than 5,000.

The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) expert group echoed this warning, projecting that the number of physicians under 65 eligible for society membership will fall from 15,200 in 2025 to 9,200 in 2040, a 39% drop. Even with fewer surgeries needed, this will translate into a shortage of about 5,200 doctors.

The crisis is fueled by ebbing interest among young physicians. Gastrointestinal surgery, which treats cancers of the stomach, colon, and other parts of the digestive tract, is considered one of the most demanding fields. Between 2012 and 2022, the number of surgical gastroenterologists fell 10% to about 19,000, with the decline reaching 15% among doctors under 40. Long, complex operations and frequent emergency procedures during nights and holidays have driven many away.

Meanwhile, cancer cases will continue to rise in the near term. New diagnoses are projected to climb 3%, from 1,025,000 today to a peak of 1,055,000 in 2040, before gradually declining along with the overall population.

The impact is said to vary by region. Smaller cities and depopulating areas are already seeing a reduction in patients, with Akita Prefecture expected to experience over 10% fall by 2040. In contrast, 16 urban prefectures will record increases, with Tokyo and Okinawa forecast to see growth of more than 10%.

Cancer treatment in Japan rests on three main pillars: surgery, radiotherapy, and drug-based therapies such as chemotherapy. While radiotherapy and drug treatments are expected to grow, surgical procedures will decline by 5%, from 465,000 in 2025 to 440,000 in 2040. This reflects fewer cases among the working-age population, who are more likely to undergo surgery.

Health ministry officials warn that Japan’s current cancer care model is unsustainable without major restructuring. A draft report released in July cautioned that even existing surgical treatments “may no longer be sustainable” if reforms are delayed.

To address the problem, the ministry is urging prefectural governments to consider consolidating facilities, staff, and costly equipment. Options include merging hospitals, centralizing services such as radiation therapy, and reallocating resources based on projected patient numbers.

Demographic shifts will reshape demand for treatment. By 2040, cancer cases among patients aged 85 and older are expected to rise in nearly all regions, apart from a few remote rural areas. This will increase demand for radiation therapy by 24% drug therapy by 15%, while surgery dwindles.

Radiation therapy specialists are projected to meet demand through 2040, but maintaining expensive equipment in depopulating areas may prove unsustainable. For drug-based therapies, no clear shortage or surplus of doctors has been identified. However, because these treatments require ongoing, scheduled care, the report recommends expanding telemedicine to ensure access in underserved regions.

The finalized report will soon be distributed to prefectural governments. Regional councils comprising local authorities, hospitals, cancer care providers, and patient groups will then determine how best to respond. The ministry stressed that clear and ongoing communication with the public will be critical in managing expectations and preserving trust as the system adapts.

Japan’s cancer care system is thus caught between rising patient needs and a waning workforce. Without urgent reforms, experts warn, even treatments that are standard today may no longer be guaranteed in the decades ahead.

Sources: Nippon/Asahi Shimbun

He said the figure represents 1.5 per cent of the 43,709 medical officer posts filled during that year. Of those who left, 386 were permanent appointees, while 289 were contract-based officers.

“The ministry appointed 7,373 new medical officers last year, comprising 4,057 permanent appointments and 3,316 on contract,” said Dr Dzulkefly. “In line with the Prime Minister’s announcement on 23 July, a total of 4,352 medical officer appointments will be made this year.”

As of now, he added, 4,006 contract medical officers — or 92 per cent of the year’s target — have already been offered permanent posts.

Responding to a question from Misbahul Munir Masduki (PN–Parit Buntar), Dr Dzulkefly reiterated the Health Ministry’s commitment to strengthening Malaysia’s healthcare system through improved workforce mobility and readiness.

Among the measures introduced is a revised starting salary of RM5,380 for Graduate Medical Officers under Grade UD9, with an annual increment of RM225.

Permanent officers have also received an eight per cent salary adjustment under the Public Service Remuneration System (SSPA) since 1 December last year, with a further seven per cent increase set to take effect on 1 January next year.

Additional incentives include locum allowances, specialist incentives and elective surgery allowances.

However, Dr Dzulkefly also revealed that 3,021 nurses from across Malaysia’s healthcare sectors migrated abroad last year, based on data from the Malaysian Nursing Board.

He attributed this trend to more competitive salary offers overseas, further influenced by favourable exchange rates in high-income countries.

To stem the outflow and retain nurses within the public system, the government has implemented several initiatives. These include an eight per cent salary adjustment under the SSPA since December 2024, and a further seven per cent from January 2026. New recruits now begin with a starting salary of RM2,934, inclusive of fixed allowances and an annual increment of RM145.

Permanent appointments have also been extended to Grade U5 nurses, in line with the exemption of interim appointments under central agency guidelines.

Nurses working with psychiatric, tuberculosis and leprosy patients receive an additional RM100 monthly, while those serving in remote areas are entitled to rural incentives ranging from RM135 to RM210 per month.

The groups criticised the comparison of medicines to regular grocery items, saying its dispensation should come with the professional opinions of doctors to ensure safe consumption.

“Patients deserve professional medical care, proper diagnosis and safe prescriptions, not a shallow price-tag hunt that risks encouraging dangerous self-medication,” they said in a statement today.

They also said the app would only promote bureaucracy with general practitioners (GPs) and pharmacies forced to update their drug prices annually.

They also questioned the need for such an app and how much of public funds had been spent on its development.

“Why is the health ministry obsessed with pushing apps and regulations but silent on fixing overcrowded hospitals, endless waiting times, staff shortages and stagnant GP fees, frozen for 30 years?

“If the ministry truly wants to champion the rakyat’s health, it must first address systemic failures in its own domain — overcrowded hospitals, endless waiting times, staff shortages and chronic underfunding.

“Overregulating private doctors is not the solution; it is merely scapegoating,” they said in a joint statement.

The statement was signed by the Federation of Private Medical Practitioners’ Associations Malaysia, Private Medical Practitioners Association of Selangor and Kuala Lumpur, Medical Practitioners Coalition Association of Malaysia and the Organisation of Malaysian Muslim Doctors.

On Aug 20, CodeBlue reported that the health ministry had unveiled the “MyPriMeCatcher”, which would allow users to compare retail medicine prices at private clinics, hospitals and community pharmacies.

The pilot project for the app was kickstarted following the implementation of the drug price display mandate under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011 on May 1.