Tigas Alliance

PHARMACY Bi-MONTHLY REVIEW | 14 Oct 2026

This week: Contract pharmacists may finally get permanent posts.

What happened
The Health Minister says MOH will propose absorbing contract pharmacy and dental officers into permanent positions, under a new quota separate from the 9,000 doctor posts in Budget 2027. MPS has welcomed it and is asking for numbers, a timeline, and who qualifies.

What it means for community pharmacy
For years, contract expiry has fed pharmacists into retail. If the public sector offers security, that pipeline tightens. Expect hiring to get harder and salary expectations to rise. If you rely on newly registered pharmacists, plan retention now, not when the quota is announced.

Useful this week: price display check
Full enforcement has been in force since January. Walk your shelves this week:
✔ Prices in RM, per unit, pack or dose
✔ Readable font, BM or English
✔ No indication or "use for" wording on the label
✔ Price list available for items behind the counter
Fines are avoidable. Ten minutes fixes most gaps.

On the radar
Kuala Lumpur hosts the FIP World Pharmacy Congress in 2027. It's a global stage for Malaysian community pharmacy. Who should be telling our story there?

Your turn
Is pharmacist hiring already getting harder in your area? Tell us below.