CONTRACT dentists and pharmacists appointed in 2016 and 2017 can now apply for permanent positions, Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa said.

According to Zaliha, the application window will be open from January 30 to February 12, 2023, on the public service commission employment registration (SPA9) system, adding that applicants should register or update their details accordingly.

“This process is a follow-up to the similar recruitment for 2018 to 2020, which was open from January 6 to January 21,” she said in a statement today.

A total of 242 dentists and 321 pharmacists are eligible to apply for the next round of recruiting, Zaliha said.

The recruitment drive comes after contract pharmacists threatened to stage a walkout if their absorption into the civil service is not prioritised.

They urged the government to do away with the interview procedure for permanent positions.

They also asked why the government had a lower quota for pharmacists than doctors. – January 27, 2023.