PETALING JAYA: The Parliamentary Special Select Committee (PSSC) on Health has recommended that the government defer the establishment of the proposed Health Service Commission (SPK).
In its latest report tabled in Parliament on Aug 27, the Health PSSC warned that the SPK risks becoming an administrative reshuffle rather than delivering real reforms to address systemic problems in the public health sector.
“The proposal to establish SPK should be postponed. However, all recommendations put forward in this statement must be taken seriously and form the basis of consideration in drafting SPK in the future.
“This step is important so that SPK does not merely become a change in administrative form but brings real reform that addresses the root of the problems,” the report said.
The committee stressed that setting up a new commission would not necessarily resolve all health sector challenges, pointing out that it would involve “very high financial implications” and could face resistance from existing officers reluctant to move to a new service scheme.
It further said that SPK’s jurisdiction would remain limited, as approval for staffing and financing would still fall under central agencies such as the Public Service Department (JPA) and the Finance Ministry (MOF).
“The powers of SPK will be restricted and will not cover all aspects of staffing management since any decision on posts remains under JPA and MOF,” the report said.
Implementation would also require extensive legal changes, including amendments to the Federal Constitution, the Service Commissions Act 1957 and various public service regulations.
In addition, the Health PSSC said any move would need two-thirds support in both the Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara.
The report highlighted that since the Cabinet first deferred the proposal in 2009, the Health Ministry had made improvements in manpower planning.
These include JPA’s approval of 1,500 additional medical officer posts annually for three years, as well as 800 new specialist posts each year.
The Health Ministry, the committee said, had shown it could continue to deliver health functions under its existing mandate, though improvements remained necessary in collaboration with central agencies.
Instead of setting up SPK immediately, the committee urged practical reforms such as reviewing allowances, hours and workloads.
It recommended that MOF, JPA and the Health Ministry increase the rate of on-call (ETAP) allowances for doctors and conduct reviews every five years, alongside broader pay and benefit increases to ensure fairness, competitiveness and retention of quality health workers.
It also called for a review of doctors’ working hours, including limiting on-call duty to once a week and mandating rest periods after shifts.
For nurses, the committee advised maintaining the 42-hour work week to preserve work-life balance and reduce fatigue, while also expanding incentives to tackle shortages and improve career attractiveness.
Further, the committee suggested that Malaysia position itself as an international hub for specialist medical training by admitting more foreign students, generating income from fees and providing sustainable funding for public healthcare development.
The Health PSSC is chaired by Suhaizan Kaiat (PH-Pulai) with secretary Dr Nizam Mydin Bacha Mydin, and comprises members Adnan Abu Hassan (BN-Kuala Pilah), Yong Syefura Othman (PH-Bentong), Oscar Ling Chai Yew (PH-Sibu), Onn Abu Bakar (PH-Batu Pahat), P Prabakaran (PH-Batu), Ahmad Yunus Hairi (PN-Kuala Langat), Alias Razak (PN-Kuala Nerus) and Zulkaferi Hanapi (PN-Tanjong Karang).
