Extend contracts for pharmacists in limbo, society tells health ministry

 The Malaysian Pharmacists Society says the government must act pending the issuance of formal appointment letters.

Up to 45 contract pharmacists may lose their government jobs after failing to receive appointment letters, with another 40 likely to face the same situation in July. (Freepik pic)

PETALING JAYA:

 The health ministry has been urged to extend the contracts of a number of experienced pharmacists who may lose their jobs after failing to receive appointment letters, despite being offered permanent positions last October.

FMT reported this week that aside from this group, who have served as contract officers for at least five years, another 40 may lose their jobs in July if the ministry does not offer them permanent posts.

The Malaysian Pharmacists Society said many of these personnel have served for several years and have gained substantial clinical experience.

“Their potential exit at this juncture raises concerns not only on their individual welfare, but also on the continuity, efficiency, and safety of pharmaceutical care services,” its president, Amrahi Buang, said in a statement.

He said the situation reflects a critical transition gap between workforce planning and administrative execution.

“Pharmacists today play an increasingly vital role in multi-disciplinary care, including medication safety, antimicrobial stewardship, chronic disease management, and optimisation of therapeutic outcomes,” he said.

Amrahi said the loss of trained pharmacists at this stage may result in:

• Disruption to care and clinical pharmacy services;
• Increased onboarding burden for replacement personnel;
• Loss of accumulated expertise within the public healthcare system; and
• Reduced retention of experienced professionals at a time when service demands are expanding.

The society proposed a number of measures, including interim contract extensions for the affected pharmacists pending the issuance of formal appointment letters.

It also called for timely and transparent communication on the appointment status of the pharmacists; development of a more structured and predictable transition pathway from contract to permanent positions; and a shift towards a “forward-looking, data-driven” workforce planning model that integrates training output, service demand, and placement capacity to ensure sustainability and minimise mismatches.

“MPS remains committed to engaging constructively with the health ministry and relevant stakeholders to support practical, evidence-informed solutions that strengthen the pharmacy workforce and safeguard the quality of care for all Malaysians,” it said. - FMT