PUTRAJAYA: More contract doctors need to be absorbed into permanent positions because the number assured by the government is insufficient, especially since more contract doctors are hired each year, says the Hartal Doktor Kontrak group.
Its spokesperson, Dr Muhammad Yassin, said this is why the group is pushing for the setting up of the Health Services Commission to better manage human resources in the country’s healthcare system.
“The government has assured 12,800 positions, but at the moment, we have 20,300 contract doctors. What about the rest?
“On top of this, there are about 5,000 new contract doctors being taken each year. So, it is not enough,” he said when met by reporters after submitting a memorandum to Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa yesterday.
Dr Muhammad was asked about the 12,800 contract doctors who are expected to be absorbed into permanent positions within the next three years.
Recently, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim told the Dewan Rakyat that the government, through Budget 2023, had allocated RM19.7bil for emoluments, an increase of RM3bil from the previous year.
Of the additional allocation, RM1.2bil was allocated for pay rises, RM600mil for contract appointments, and RM1.1bil for absorption into permanent positions.
Anwar also said that for 2023, a total of RM1.7bil was allocated for recruiting more contract doctors and to absorb existing ones into permanent positions.
At the meeting, Dr Muhammad said the minister had assured him that constant engagements would be held with Hartal Doktor Kontrak as well as other groups.
“We will act as a bridge between contract doctors and the government to relay suggestions and views that affect us,” he said.
In the memorandum, Hartal Doktor Kontract has, among others, requested to be included as a member of the high-level committee set up by the ministry to look into issues involving the interests of contract doctors.
The group also urged the government to expedite the setting up of a Health Services Commission and a Health Reformation Commission.
“We urge the ministry and the government to take proactive measures to protect the welfare of all contract healthcare staff by ensuring career growth and development.
“We want to see issues affecting contract healthcare workers quickly resolved. All the pain and sacrifices we made during the Covid-19 pandemic should not be forgotten,” the memorandum said.
