Planned Health Service Commission will not set pay or create posts, minister says
1 November 2026 · News · Hospitals & specialist centres
The Health Minister told Parliament on 27 October that the proposed Health Service Commission would handle appointments, confirmations, promotions, transfers and discipline for MOH staff, but would not be able to create new posts or set salaries. For patients, it means the commission alone is unlikely to fix the staffing gaps behind long waits at government hospitals, and the private sector will keep absorbing much of the overflow.
What was said in the Dewan Rakyat
Answering a question during Question Time on 27 October 2026, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said the planned commission would take over human-resource functions for the Ministry of Health that currently sit with the wider civil service: appointing and confirming officers, placing them on permanent and pensionable terms, promotions, transfers and disciplinary control. He linked these powers to Article 144 of the Federal Constitution.
He also said the commission would not have the authority to create new positions or design a salary scheme. Those decisions stay with the Public Service Department and the Finance Ministry, the same limit that applies to other service commissions such as those for education and the police.
The question came from his predecessor, Sekijang MP Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa, who asked when a Health Service Commission Bill would be tabled and connected the issue to staff shortages and brain drain.
Timeline and scope
The minister said the ministry hopes to table the bill before the end of the 15th Parliament, without giving a date. The ministry held an engagement session with other service commissions and the Public Service Department on 22 October to study how such bodies are set up. Malay Mail reported that the ministry is seeking a Cabinet policy decision this year.
The commission would cover all 86 MOH service schemes, from medical and dental officers to pharmacists, nurses, assistant medical officers, radiographers and laboratory staff.
What it means for patients and families
A dedicated commission could speed up hiring, confirmation and transfers inside the public health service. But the levers most closely tied to keeping doctors and nurses in government service, such as the number of posts and pay, remain outside its reach. Critics quoted by CodeBlue have questioned how much difference the body can make without those powers.
In practice, families who face long waits for specialist appointments or elective surgery in government hospitals should not expect quick change from this announcement. Many will continue to weigh private care, insurance cover and the cost of going private.
- If you are considering private treatment, ask for a written cost estimate before admission.
- Check whether the hospital is on your insurer's or employer's panel before you book.
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Sources
- Planned health commission won't determine pay or create posts, Dewan Rakyat told — The Star
- Dzulkefly: Health Service Commission bill to be tabled by end of 15th Parliament if approved — Malay Mail
- Dzulkefly 'commits' to forming Health Service Commission without power to create positions or set emoluments — CodeBlue
Editorial summary written by Best Malaysia Healthcare. Not medical, legal or financial advice; check the original sources.