KUALA LUMPUR – Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba (Tenggara-BN) has promised that no action will be taken against doctors who participated in the #HartalDoktorKontrak walkout yesterday.
In his reply to the Dewan Rakyat today, the health minister said contract medical workers will be given permanent positions.
“No action will be taken against the #HartalDoktorKontrak protest participants yesterday, even though they staged a walkout (from their hospitals).”
To address junior doctors’ demand for permanent positions, he said, the interim solution is to add two years to their compulsory two years of service at public hospitals.
He reiterated Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s announcement that the cabinet has agreed to extend the appointment of contract medical and dental officers by up to four years.
This was met with scorn from the opposition side, with MPs pointing out that junior doctors are seeking at least 10 years to allow them to finish their postgraduate degrees on their areas of specialisation.
Many Pakatan Harapan lawmakers heckled and interrupted Dr Adham’s winding-up speech.
Deputy Speaker Datuk Mohd Rashid Hasnon (Batu Pahat-BN) repeatedly told members of the House to remain calm and sit down, to no avail.
Former health minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad (Kuala Selangor-PH) stressed that doctors need more time.
We will support you if you want to amend the bill, but only if you give them at least eight years. We request for eight years, not two years. Eight years is what they requested.”
Dr Adham replied that the government will need to amend two acts before junior doctors’ request can be granted, namely the Pensions Act 1980 and Medical Act 1971.
It was reported that no action will be taken against 24 contract doctors from Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital (HTAR) in Klang who participated in the protest.
An English daily reported that hospital director Dr Zulkarnain Mohd Rawi received instructions not to take disciplinary action against them.
“The case is closed, and they do not need to submit a written explanation as to why they participated in the strike.”
Earlier, Dr Zulkarnain said contract doctors at HTAR could face disciplinary action for participating in the demonstration and would be issued show-cause letters.
Citing the Hippocratic Oath, he said: “Doctors have to sacrifice themselves for the sake of their patients, not the other way around. So, doctors must help people in need without taking into account self-interests.”
He said contract doctors should not have been influenced into joining the walkout after the government extended their contracts.
“We don’t work for glamour. The work of a doctor is noble; don’t throw it away until it is looked down on by society. A lot of medical knowledge is gained when working in the public sector, which sees a variety of cases.”
More than 20 HTAR medical personnel joined the strike for about 15 minutes yesterday. – The Vibes, July 27, 2021
