PONTIAN, Feb. 15 -- Health Minister Datuk Seri Dzulkefly Ahmad said the ministry is in urgent need of sufficient manpower in order to fill new hospitals and health facilities nationwide.

He said the country needs medical staff to meet the needs of the national healthcare system.

"The current shortage is not because of a stringent selection standard by the Health Ministry, but due to a limited supply of medical and health graduates.

"Our newly built health facilities can only operate effectively with the support of sufficient health workers such as medical officers, nurses, specialists and support staff," he said in his speech at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Hospital Pontian's additional annex at Dataran Pontian here today.

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