‘Contract doctors who quit will not be considered for permanent posts’

KUALA LUMPUR – Contract health workers who have resigned from their position previously will not be considered for permanent postings in the service, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.

This is one of several strict conditions the Health Ministry has in place when considering permanent hirings, according to its minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa.

She said this when elaborating on the ministry's hiring scheme involving 4,914 placements, which began on March 1.

“Consideration in appointing contract medical officers is based on vacancies and the officers fulfilling all the conditions, as well as passing the interview,” she said during her ministry’s Budget 2023 winding speech at the policy stage, here, today. 

“Officers must also comprise those who were hired on a contract between 2016 and 2019, and have graduated either in Malaysia or overseas. 

“Candidates must also never have resigned (from the service), have their services terminated, or subjected to disciplinary action.”

Dr Zaliha gave her assurance that the assessment for hiring is done objectively, fairly, and transparently, based on the candidates' performance, adding that prospective hires will also be vetted for their values, integrity, and professionalism, among others. 

According to her, a total of 9,321 individuals had applied for the 4,914 permanent placements, which consist of 4,263 posts for medical officers, 335 for dental officers, and 316 for pharmacy officers. 

She said this in response to questions raised by several MPs during their debates on the efforts taken by the ministry to resolve the issue of contract doctors. 

Later in her speech, Dr Zaliha said she is in constant communication with the Public Service Department and Public Services Commission on the possibility of permanently absorbing more contract health workers.

However, she said any such decision would not be in the near future, as the government would have to take into consideration other factors such as future pension commitments. 

“However, health services are considered an essential service that we cannot just implement a blanket policy. 

“God-willing, give me some time to continue discussing with the relevant agencies (to resolve this issue).”

On a separate matter, Dr Zaliha said her ministry is currently looking at addressing the longstanding issue of insufficient parking bays at public health facilities. 

Among other solutions, she said the ministry is in the midst of identifying locations to construct multi-storey car parks.

“There are also hospitals where we have identified spaces that can be used as car parks but are a bit far (from the hospitals), and we can then provide shuttle buses.

“I have recently discussed with the Selayang MP about potentially using the stadium there as parking and using a shuttle service to ferry patients. But of course, we have to collaborate with the stadium (management).” – The Vibes, March 21, 2023