KUALA LUMPUR – The Health Ministry is being taken to task by one of its own over the issue of giving contract doctors permanent posts and the projected doctor-to-population ratio.
Putrajaya Hospital consultant physician and nephrologist Dr Rafidah Abdullah in a series of tweets last night questioned the ministry over the 1:1400 doctor-to-population ratio by 2025 under the 12th Malaysian Plan (12MP) and the mismatch of permanent positions provided by the government.
“If the projection for doctors by the ministry is true, why can’t the government or PSD (Public Service Department) provide permanent posts accordingly? Why do doctors have to be hired on a contract basis with the uncertainty of their specialty studies and other facilities?”
She also questioned the 1:1400 ratio, saying it meant that the number of doctors in the public sector is still insufficient and that the ministry has to provide an explanation on this.
“How many additional posts are needed for the ministry to meet this projection? And what are the cost implications involved? What are you doing?
“Is it true that the Finance Ministry cannot afford the costs of the welfare and health of the people in the future? Is Malaysia that poor?
“If the government does not want to explain this to us (public healthcare sector), explain it to the people,” she said while tagging Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin in one of the tweets.
MANA PERJAWATAN TETAP DOKTOR?
— Dr. Rafidah Abdullah (@rafidah72) November 15, 2021
Saya penat dengan budaya cover sana sini. Kalau tak cukup doktor, just give the doctors the job. Permanent posts.
Why is it so difficult ?
Gambar bersama doktor2 kontrak yg sentiasa bekerja keras. pic.twitter.com/yA5M3uOppx
She then lambasted the government, saying she is tired of the “cover culture”.
“If there is a shortage of doctors, just give the doctors the job. Permanent posts. Why is it so difficult?”
The issue of contract doctors hit the headlines, particularly during a walkout movement in July to push for reform of the public health contract employment system.
Just a week ago, Khairy told Dewan Rakyat that more than 1,000 medical officers have been given permanent contracts since 2016, while over 24,000 medical graduates were hired on a contract basis.
“This is a legacy problem we need to tackle swiftly.
“I’m not sure we can absorb all doctors, but perhaps we can start by taking in the number of staff that the Health Ministry projects it needs,” he said during Ministers’ Question Time on November 9.
He said of 10,583 healthcare personnel performing their compulsory service, 4,186 were evaluated and would be referred to PSD for permanent appointments.
When asked by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (Port Dickson-PH) if the ministry can guarantee the permanent employment of more than 10,000 doctors, Khairy assured his stance is not too far from the opposition leader’s.
However, Khairy said the ministry can only provide permanent positions based on its needs.
He said these 4,186 medical personnel – comprising doctors, dentists, and pharmacists – are based on the ministry’s projections of the number of staff it needs next year.
In last month’s Budget 2022 tabling, the Finance Ministry said the contracts of 10,000 medical, dental, and pharmaceutical officers are to be extended from two to four years. – The Vibes, November 16, 2021
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