KUALA LUMPUR – A total of 774 assistant medical officers (AMOs) from the sixth and seventh phases of contract appointments will be offered permanent positions as early as next month, reflecting the government’s commitment to strengthening the healthcare workforce.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said that currently, 3,264 AMOs remain on contract, with 2,661 based at the Ministry of Health’s Training Institutes and the rest in private institutions.
“The total number of AMO positions stands at 17,770, of which 92%, or 16,301, are already filled, leaving 1,469 vacancies,” he said at a press conference after launching the 14th National Medical Assistants Day celebration at Hospital Tunku Azizah today.
Dzulkefly added that the government is continuously working to enhance the clinical skills of more than 25,000 AMOs nationwide, ensuring they remain relevant and aligned with the healthcare system’s needs. This includes increasing training capacity and hiring additional personnel.
To support this effort, the Health Ministry remains committed to ongoing training and curriculum improvements under the Assistant Medical Officer Profession Development Plan 2016–2030.
Meanwhile, in a bid to enhance professionalism, Dzulkefly said the ministry is strengthening the Assistant Medical Officer Technical Experts (AMOTeX) registration system to ensure that highly skilled AMOs remain within specialist services.
“At the same time, we support the creation of flexible AMO positions in specialist fields to build a more dynamic and adaptable workforce that meets current healthcare demands,” he added. — March 10, 2025