KUALA LUMPUR – The Health Ministry’s latest offer to extend the appointment of contract doctors until December next year is not an effective solution to the nation’s healthcare issues.
In a statement today, the Pakatan Harapan health committee said the move will not do much if there are no follow-up actions.
“New steps need to be taken to provide opportunities for contract doctors to be trained as specialist doctors and secure their careers.
“Specialist doctors are trained through the Master of Medicine programme at local universities, or ‘Parallel Pathways’ through foreign institutions.
“These programmes take at least four to six years to train each specialist. The training ensures there are enough specialist doctors in our country.
“In addition, these doctors continue to provide their services while training to become specialists.”
The contract doctor system was introduced in 2016 as a temporary measure with regard to the placement of trainees until their mandatory term of service expires.
Some 23,000 contract doctors have been hired under the scheme, with only 789 given permanent appointments.
Specialist training for doctors can involve those with permanent appointments through the federal training scheme (HLP).
The PH committee proposed steps for the Health Ministry to consider:
- The ministry must ensure that the selection and appointment criteria for permanent posts are fair, transparent and merit-based. The said criteria must be made public, so as to reduce the perception of unfairness and biases;
- Contract doctors should be given equal opportunity as permanent ones to qualify for specialist training under HLP. Contract doctors who accept the scheme should be given a contract extension until they complete their specialisation training and fulfil their contractual requirements. This can be done through a cabinet decision and changes in internal policy; and,
- Contract doctors should get equal treatment as permanent ones, given that both groups have equal responsibilities and workload, in addition to facing the risk of infection at the workplace. This should apply in terms of salaries, special-duty leave and others.
The committee suggested that the government, in its long-term plans for the healthcare system, study the overall human resources strategy for healthcare workers, including doctors, specialists, nurses and allied health professionals, and draft an appropriate policy to ensure a sufficient workforce.
On June 30, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba assured that the matter concerning contract doctors will be brought up in the cabinet, and promised more benefits under schemes offered by the ministry.
He said as of May 31, there were 35,216 doctors appointed on a contract basis under three schemes, with 23,077 medical officers, 5,000 dental officers and 7,139 pharmacy officers currently on contract.
“The ministry has also recruited 12,153 individuals under its undergraduate training scheme for one cycle.”
Following years of unresolved issues concerning contract doctors, the Malaysian Medical Association’s (MMA) Section Concerning House Officers, Medical Officers and Specialists, representing government doctors, this month launched its “Code Black” week and Black Monday in a show of solidarity with this group.
The peaceful protest aims to solidify the demand for equal and fair treatment between contract and permanent staff, as well as ensure job security for all healthcare workers.
A separate group of doctors has also called for a one-day strike on July 26 to protest against the government’s contract system. This movement is not affiliated with MMA. – The Vibes, July 12, 2021
