KUALA LUMPUR – The Malaysian Medical Association’s (MMA) Section Concerning House Officers, Medical Officers and Specialists (Schomos) has expressed confidence that the Health Ministry will come up with solutions to contract doctors’ woes this week.
Describing the association’s meetings with Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba and Finance Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz as fruitful, MMA-Schomos national chairman Dr Vijayan Ganasan said the grouses will be brought up at the next cabinet meeting.
“We are hoping for a resolution following the next cabinet meeting this Wednesday. At the same time, we hope for a long-term solution to be tabled in Parliament as well,” he told an online press conference today.
On the launch of Black Monday today as part of MMA-Schomos’ 12-day “Code Black” campaign, Dr Vijayan said it is a success, with an estimated 15,000 healthcare workers standing in solidarity with contract doctors nationwide.
“Overall, we achieved our objectives. I applaud healthcare workers for carrying placards in support. Some of them made the effort to wear black since we kick-started this campaign on July 1.
“We hope that contract healthcare workers’ long wait for improved hiring terms and access to professional development will soon end.
“Selection for permanent posts should also be done at regular intervals and in a transparent manner, with the ranking criteria made known to everyone in advance.”
MMA-Schomos, representing government doctors, stopped short of calling for a strike should the ministry fail to meet its demands.
Among the demands are:
- Clear and available career or postgraduate pathways to specialisation for contract doctors;
- Detailed and transparent criteria for permanent posts;
- Equal and fair treatment between contract and permanent staff; and,
- Job security for all healthcare workers.
Supporters of the Code Black campaign include medical associations and senior doctors.
The presser also saw the participation of the Academy of Medicine Malaysia, Malaysian Health Coalition, Malaysian Dental Association, Medical Practitioners’ Coalition Association of Malaysia, Malaysian Pharmacists’ Society, Malaysian Male Nurses’ Association, Malaysian Medical Assistants’ Association, Islamic Medical Association of Malaysia, Malaysian Medics International, Malaysian Society of Radiographers, and Malaysian Society of Medical Laboratory Technologists. – The Vibes, July 12, 2021
