PRIME Minister Anwar Ibrahim has guaranteed that the Public Service Department (JPA) sponsorship of those pursuing medicine, dentistry and pharmacy will continue.

He said the decision to stop sponsorship of these programmes was a policy of the previous administration and it would be reviewed by the unity government.

“Last week there was a special meeting with the JPA and they said it was an existing policy. I have asked for the policy to be reviewed as the need for doctors, pharmacists, and dentists was still there.

“This means the JPA sponsorship for these programmes will be continued,” he told a question-and-answer session with undergraduates at Universiti Sains Malaysia in Penang this evening.

The programme was livestreamed on Facebook.

In written answer last week, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah, Sarawak Affairs and Special Duties) Armizan Mohd Ali said the government had decided to stop sponsorship of students who wanted to take up medicine, dentistry, and pharmacy under the JPA programme.

He said the decision was made as there was a sufficient supply of personnel in these fields.

“We have recorded a ratio of 1:420 of the total medical manpower requirements across the country to the population until December 2021 and it is expected that the ratio of 1:400 can be achieved in 2025,” he said.

Armizan said the number of medical officers in 2021 is 72,812, exceeding the demand of 70,721.

“Demand for dental and pharmacy officers will be met in 2025 and 2029.

“However, students already under PSD programmes will still be sponsored until 2027,” he said in a written reply to Dewan Rakyat. – June 11, 2023.