Dzulkefly: Staffing, facilities key focus of Johor healthcare action plan
"First is the improvement of the state's public healthcare system. That is our commitment, in terms of facilities and such.
"Second is the need to examine human resources. This is where we directly look at the metrics and the norms. What is truly essential for a state and its facilities," he said.
Dzulkefly was speaking to the press during the Precision Public Health Asia 2025 Conference in Petaling Jaya today.
He added that the third and fourth focuses were on enhancing capacity and preparing new healthcare facilities nearing completion.
As an example, he highlighted the staffing of the soon-to-open Pasir Gudang Hospital as a key concern.
"We want that matter to be studied more granularly, in more detail, so that we can begin operations at a more reasonable level, say, at 50 per cent. We're taking that as a necessity," he said.
He said that implementing solutions would require strengthened cooperation between state and federal bodies and confirmed that follow-up action had already begun.
"This is why we are moving immediately. I have mobilised those responsible, together with the Johor government, so that we can follow up on this matter more swiftly," Dzulkefly said.
Yesterday, Johor Health and Environment Committee chairman Ling Tian Soon said the federal and Johor governments had agreed to establish a joint task force to tackle the worsening shortage of healthcare workers in the state's public hospitals.
Ling added that the newly proposed task force would comprise senior officials from the Health Ministry and the state government.
This was after Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar said Dr Dzulkefly met Onn Hafiz to discuss the critical shortage of healthcare workers reported in the state.
Shamsul said he had also discussed the issue with Onn Hafiz on the sidelines of the Menteri Besar and Chief Ministers' meeting, chaired by the prime minister in Putrajaya on Monday.
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