KUALA LUMPUR – Melaka Hospital has clarified a parking issue highlighted by Hartal Doktor Kontrak on Twitter yesterday, saying the memo referred to full-time clinical and non-clinical staffers.
In a statement, the hospital said it regretted the confusion that arose from the memo and that the term “status tetap” (fixed status) in the memo did not point to whether they are contract staff.
“The wording of ‘status tetap’ refers to full-time staffers at Melaka Hospital, including full-time clinical and non-clinical staffers on permanent and contract basis. However, this does not include daily part-time workers, volunteers, porters, students, and other part-time hospital workers.”
https://t.co/afZLrD6qT9 pic.twitter.com/DyJYXxijhg
— Khairy Jamaluddin ??? (@Khairykj) December 4, 2021
The hospital said it has received 256 applications for new parking stickers (vehicles and motorcycles) from permanent and contract staffers since issuing the memo on November 12.
The hospital’s statement was also shared on Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin’s Twitter account.
Hartal Doktor Kontrak on Twitter took the hospital to task yesterday, questioning if contract medical officers deserve a parking bay following Khairy’s announcement that contract officers receive the same benefits as those hired on a permanent basis.
@Khairykj : Pegawai kontrak dapat benefit sama macam pegawai tetap
— HartalDoktorKontrak (@HKontrak) December 3, 2021
Hospital Melaka : pic.twitter.com/KGYz7PEg8e
As of the time of writing, the post by Hartal Doktor Kontrak garnered 1,143 retweets, 1,054 likes and 198 quote tweets with many criticising the overall treatment of contract doctors.
On Monday, according to the Health Ministry, 1,025 contract doctors resigned during the Covid-19 pandemic period from 2020 to 2021.
During question time at the Dewan Rakyat today, Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad (Kuala Selangor-PH) queried the ministry over the number of medical graduates who resigned and the reasons behind their resignation.
Deputy Health Minister Datuk Dr Noor Azmi Ghazali said that from 2017 until June 2021, 1,497 contract doctors tendered their resignation.
Breaking down the figures, he explained 110 doctors resigned in 2017, 168 in 2018, 475 in 2019, and 511 in 2020, while there were 514 resignations from January to November 26, 2021.
“With regard to resignations, such decisions are exercised by contract doctors based on a variety of reasons.
“Among these reasons include wanting to serve in the private sector, unspecified personal reasons, serving in statutory bodies, furthering studies, and health reasons,” Dr Noor Azmi said.
On November 2, it was reported by the media that contract doctors pushing for permanent posts in the civil service will be organising a second protest.
#HartalDoktorKontrak contends that Budget 2022 does not address issues faced by medical personnel.
On July 26 this year, contract doctors across the nation staged a walkout from various government hospitals to demand permanent posts. – The Vibes, November 29, 2021
