Permanent employment for doctors, pharmacists, and dentists in the civil service is no longer guaranteed as the positions are now being filled on a contract basis, The Star reported today.

Health Ministry secretary-general Dr Chen Chaw Min was quoted as saying that 1,219 candidates had been offered jobs on a contract basis by the Public Service Commission since last December.

"Permanent appointments will be based on their merit during houseman-ship training and recommendation by the Health director-general," said Chen.

He said competent staff who fulfilled specific requirements would be offered permanent posts but they may have to wait for when there are vacancies.

On the criteria for a permanent medical officer post, Chen said doctors must fulfill the service requirements, including attaining a good level of competency and performance of at least 85 percent in the yearly performance review during their houseman-ship training or compulsory service.

Other factors taken into consideration, he added, include identifying talents who have the potential for specialty training and are willing to serve at any place in the ministry’s facilities during their tenure.

Chen also said the move announced under Budget 2017 is expected to reduce waiting time for houseman-ship training and compulsory service.

For this year, he said the ministry planned to take in 9,300 candidates comprising 5,425 candidates for housemen,1,921 dental officers, and 1,954 pharmacists.

According to the report, all doctors must first successfully complete their houseman-ship within the three years of contract, after which they would be on another two-year contract for compulsory service as a medical officer.

Pharmacists, meanwhile, will be hired as provisionally registered pharmacists (PRP) for one year - with a maximum contract offered for two years - before going on a one-year compulsory service contract.

Dentists are not required to undergo an internship but must still complete their one-year compulsory service with a maximum contract offered for three years.